Men's Basketball | 2/11/2023 6:18:00 PM
ELMIRA, NY - For the second consecutive season and the second time in program history, the Utica University men's basketball team clinched the Empire 8 regular season title after a 73-59 win at Elmira College on Saturday. The team will now have home court advantage throughout the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.
The team also recorded its 20th win of the season, making it the third time in program history and second time in as many seasons Utica has reached that mark.
Five Pioneers recorded double figures in points led by Thomas Morreale, who finished the afternoon with a 13 point, 10 rebound double-double. The senior also added three blocks and two steals to his line.
Damien Call and Luke Bourgault each just missed double-double performances as Bourgault went for 13 points and nine rebounds while Call had 10 points and eight boards. Justice Brantley totaled 13 points in the win while Dayion Thompson provided 11 and a pair of steals off the bench.
Utica opened the game up on a Morreale three and never looked back from there as the team went wire-to-wire. Elmira kept it close early on as the team stayed within 10 points nearly the whole half. With the score 22-19 Utica and 2:30 to play in the half, the Pioneers went on a 10-0 run, which was fueled by six Brantley points, to end the half up 32-19.
The Pioneers carried momentum over from the end of the first half through the second half as the team found themselves ahead by 26 points, 54-28, with 10 minutes to go in the game. Utica remained at least a 20 point lead from 13:54 until under four minutes to play before ultimately leaving Elmira with a 13 point victory.
Utica (20-3, 15-1 Empire 8) will return home for the final weekend of the regular season. The team will host Medaille University at 7:30 p.m. on February 17 before honoring its seniors prior to its 4 p.m. matchup against Houghton University on February 18.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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