UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team fell in its conference opener in overtime against the Russell Sage College Gators by a score of 91-89 on Tuesday evening.
Three Pioneers finished in double scoring figures in
Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (22pts, 6-15 FG, 4-10 3pt, 6-7 FT),
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) (18 pts, 6-14 FG, 1-6 3pt, 5-5 FT), and
Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) (15pts, 69 FG, 3-5 FT). Parks led the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers, hauling in a team high 15. Defensively, a trio of Pioneers managed a pair of steals in Cain, Parks, and Thompson, while Parks managed a team leading four blocks, and
Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) posted three.
Utica came out with energy, getting an early
Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) dunk off a
Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) assist to open the scoring, but Russell Sage answered quickly and used back-to-back takeaways to jump in front 6-2. The Pioneers steadied themselves behind Parks at the rim, adding a pair of free throws and a layup to even it, before
Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) knocked down a triple to swing momentum. The half stayed tight with multiple lead changes, as Cain hit two more threes to help Utica build a lead as large as 29-18, and
Jeffrey Manuel (Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) added a key stretch at the line and a dunk to keep the Pioneers in front. Sage chipped back late, but Utica closed the half with a burst in transition, including late free throws from
Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) to pull even, sending the teams to the break tied 44-44.
In the second half, Utica continued to generate offense through its interior play and timely perimeter makes, with
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) drilling a three early and Cain finishing in the paint to push the Pioneers ahead. Utica stretched the margin to as many as eight (60-52) around the 11-minute mark, but Sage responded with second-chance points and a run that pulled the game back to even at 65-65. The final minutes were a back-and-forth battle, and after Sage took a 77-70 edge with under a minute left, the Pioneers kept fighting—
Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) buried a clutch three and Thompson finished twice at the rim, including the tying layup at the horn to force overtime, 77-77.
In OT, Cain opened with two free throws to give Utica the lead, and the Pioneers traded punches throughout the extra session. Thompson's three free throws erased a Sage lead and tied it at 89-89 with 0:18 left, but Russell Sage answered in the final seconds with a go-ahead layup at the 0:01 mark. Utica's last possession ended in a turnover, and the Gators escaped with a 91-89 overtime decision.
Utica (7-3, 0-1 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, January 9 as the team travels to take on the Houghton University Highlanders. Tip off from Houghton, NY is set for 7:30pm.
