ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team defeated the No. 19 Nazareth College Golden Flyers 85-81 in overtime after a terrific fifteen-point comeback in the second half. Utica moves to 10-2 overall and is now 5-0 in Empire 8 play to sit atop the standings.
 
The Pioneers started off hot as three-pointers by Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) and Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) gave the team an early 6-3 lead. The teams would exchange buckets before Nazareth opened a 21-10 lead with 12:01 left in the first half. Utica battled back to cut the lead to 34-30 with just over two minutes left in the first frame. A late Nazareth run had the Golden Flyers up 41-31 at the end of the first half.
 
The second half featured the teams exchanging buckets for the majority of the frame. Then the Golden Flyers went on a run to hold a sixteen-point edge. Nazareth led 67-52 with 7:54 to go before Utica began its run. Three-pointers by Luke Bregault and Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) cut the lead to 72-62. Then a pair of and-one's by Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) and a jumper by Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) cut the lead to 72-70 with just 1:20 to go in the game. Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) tied the game at 72-72 before Nazareth took a 74-72 edge with just 25 seconds to go. After the Golden Flyers missed the front end of a one and one, Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) ran up the court with just five seconds in regulation to tie the game at 74-74 at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
In overtime, the teams exchanged leads before Utica went up 79-78 off a Morreale free throw. Morreale then hit a fastbreak layup off a Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) steal to give the Pioneers a 81-78 lead. Clutch free throws by Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) put Utica up 85-78 and the team held on to win 85-81.
 
The Pioneers had plenty of contributors in tonight's win. Morreale led the team in scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds and scored five crucial overtime points. Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) poured in 17 points and continued his recent success from behind the arc going 4-for-4 from three-point range with six rebounds. Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) continued his career year as he posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) continued his excellent freshman campaign as he dropped 12 points with six rebounds and played a vital part in forcing overtime with his eight points in the final two minutes of regulation.
 
Utica (10-2, 5-0 Empire 8) will return home to host Elmira College on Friday, January 13 at 7:30 p.m.