Men's Basketball | 2/17/2024 6:47:00 PM
UTICA, NY - The Utica University Men's Basketball team defeated the Elmira College Soaring Eagles in its final regular season game of the year, 92-66. With the victory and Nazareth's loss to St. John Fisher, Utica clinched the top-seed in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, capturing its third straight regular season championship. The team has earned the right for home court advantage throughout the Empire 8 Tournament.
The Pioneers shot the lights out, going 54 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep (12-24) and 83 percent from the free-throw line. The team also dominated on the glass, collecting 48 rebounds to Elmira's 24.
On the team's senior day, Utica's veterans led the way. Justice Brantley paced the offense, notching a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds on an efficient 9-12 shooting night. Luke Bourgault poured in 17 along with five rebounds on a 5-7 night from the field. Damien Call and Thomas Morreale were both solid, scoring 11 apiece while Call collected seven boards and Morreale had 8. Hagen Foley did it all tonight, scoring nine points, dishing out seven assists and grabbing five rebounds. Devon Flynn added eight points as well.
Elmira's offense was led by Riley Spencer who dropped 21 while Carter Seeberger was the only other double-digit scorer with 10.
Utica got off to an early 12-3 lead, scoring in transition often with Brantley and Bourgault throwing down fast break dunks. Elmira showed resilience throughout much of the first half keeping things within 10 until the closing minutes of the frame. The Soaring Eagles got to within three halfway through the first, but their run was stifled by back-to-back scores from the interior by Morreale.
Brantley would help open the Utica lead to 17 after draining a pair of three pointers in the first minute of the second half. Utica would continue to wreak havoc from deep scoring their next three baskets from behind the arc as well.
Five straight points from Bourgault would extend the Utica lead to over 20 where the team would never look back. Foley would later throw an alley-oop to Call that ignited the crowd before Flynn would bury two shots from three point range to put Utica up by 29 with two and a half minutes remaining.
Utica (22-3, 15-1 Empire 8) will host the winner of Keuka and Alfred in the Empire 8 Semifinals on Thursday, February 22 at 7 p.m. from Miga Court. Those two teams are set to meet on Tuesday, February 20 at 7 p.m. in Keuka Park, NY.
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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
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