UTICA, N.Y. – The Connecticut College men's basketball team fell by a 66-56 final to Utica University in the title game of the Utica Classic on Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.

Utica's starting five accounted for all but 12 points in the contest, with Justice Brantley supplying a game-high 21 points to go with 11 rebounds and two assists. Thomas Morreale and Dayion Thompson also scored in double digits with 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Pioneers shot 46 percent for the game.

David Murray (Jackson Heights, N.Y.) and Elias Espinosa (Leonia, N.J.) once again led the Camels on the offensive end. Murray posted 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, and Espinosa tallied 10 points, five boards and three steals. Billy Whelan (Hamilton, Mass.) also added nine points off the bench, all from beyond the arc.

In the opening half, the score remained tight until a 13-2 run by the Camels yielded a 29-20 lead with 7:40 to play. Five players contributed points during the stretch, which was bookended by three-pointers from Dylan Watson (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) and Whelan.

Utica used a 18-2 spurt in the final 6:10 of the half to seize control. Brantley supplied 12 of the 18 points as the Pioneers took a 38-31 lead into the break. The Camels shot only 1-for-8 and committed four turnovers during the swing.

Utica held the lead for the entirety of the second half, keeping Conn at a comfortable distance for a majority of the stanza. The Camels got as close as three following a three-pointer by Watson with 9:04 to go, but the Pioneers quickly built the lead back to eight behind free throws from Griffin Barasa and a three-point play by Morreale.

Utica extended the margin to double digits with 3:32 remaining and coasted to the finish. The Pioneers improved to 8-2 on the season and 9-2 in their annual holiday tournament.

The biggest discrepancy between the two teams came at the free throw line, where the Pioneers made 25 attempts to Conn's five. The result was a 15-4 scoring advantage for the hosts, who were whistled for only 10 total fouls in the game.

Conn (9-3 overall) will open NESCAC play at Tufts University on Friday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m.