By: Utica College Athletics
UTICA, NY - The Utica College men's basketball team advanced to 9-2 in 2019-20 with a 104-97 road win over the 22nd-ranked Hamilton Continentals Friday afternoon. This was the definition of a team victory, as six different Pioneers finished in double digits en route to
Sean Coffey's 50th win as head coach at Utica College.
This marks Coffey's first win over a ranked opponent during his four-year tenure and is also the first time UC has topped Hamilton since the 2009-10 season. Despite history not being on its side Utica took this matchup home in convincing fashion, only trailing for a total of 2:57 in its fifth-straight win.
Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the first half and the score remained even at 29 apiece with 6:40 left to play in the half. The Pioneers made the most out of the remaining time they had, as they outscored the Continentals 18-9 to take a 47-38 lead heading into the locker room.
Utica kept its stride in the second half, working its lead all the way up to a 19-point advantage with just over nine minutes left to play. Hamilton hung around for the duration and even drew within three (100-97) with 40 seconds left on the clock, but the Pioneers responded to every Continentals' run and eventually secured the victory.
Free throws were a huge factor in this game, as UC went 48-of-59 from the line throughout this contest. The 48 made free throws marks a program record at Utica.
Sophomore guard Darius Hopkins led the way at the line, shooting 10-of-14 while finishing with a team-high 18 points on the afternoon.
Senior forward Hunter Remley was also a catalyst for UC, as he posted a team-high three 3-pointers on the way to a 17-point night. Freshman point guard Brett Talbert matched Remley with 17 of his own, which marked his third-consecutive double-digit scoring game.
Freshman forward Thomas Morreale continued his very impressive freshman campaign, finishing with 15 points while shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. The Whitesboro High School product also grabbed five boards, a team-high he shared with Talbert.
Freshman Justice Brantley, who posted his first collegiate double-digit scoring game last Monday against Delhi with 16 points, followed with another successful performance, rounding out the UC score sheet with 11 points. The 6-foot-3 forward also knocked down the two biggest free throws of the game, lifting the Pioneers to a 102-97, two-possession advantage with only 24 seconds left to play.
Junior center Kimedrick Murphy continued his dominance under the basket, matching Brantley with 11 points while adding four rebounds and one block.
UC men's basketball returns to action next Tuesday, as the team kicks off Empire 8 conference play at home against Sage at 5:30 p.m.