UTICA, NY - For the second time in three seasons the Utica University men's basketball team will play for the right to be crowned Empire 8 champions. In the same fashion that was the 2021-22 season, the Pioneers defeated the visiting Alfred University Saxons in the Empire 8 Semifinals at home, 70-61. 

Thomas Morreale shined with a 20 point (7-10 FG, 3-3 3PT), 11 rebound double-double. He added two blocks and two steals to his line as well. Morreale, along with Hagen Foley (19 points, 7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT), Justice Brantley (12 points, 4-9 FG) and Damien Call (10 points, 4-6 FG) accounted for 60 of the team's 70 points. Luke Bourgault added seven in 29 minutes off the bench. 

For the Saxons, Tyler Hind dropped 22 points as he willed himself through 38 minutes of play. Franlys Valenzuela recorded a 12 point, 15 rebound double-double in the losing effort. 

As a defensive unit, Utica held Alfred to just 35.5 percent shooting from the floor and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Saxons did, however, dominate the boards as the visitors out-rebounded the Pioneers 39-29. 

Hind accounted for 16 of Alfred's 28 first half points while Foley, Morreale and Brantley had 10 apiece for 30 of Utica's 39. 

The Pioneers couldn't have asked for a better start to the game as Alfred began the opening 7:45 0-for-11 from the floor. Utica, taking full advantage, jumped out to a 15-0 lead with Morreale and Foley combining for 12 points. 

Alfred would get its first two points on the charity stripe before chipping away to make it a 15-9 game with 10:48 left in the first. 

Over the ensuing seven minutes, the Pioneers regained complete control as they increased their advantage to 19 points at 34-15. The run was fueled by the local duo of Call and Morreale while Foley and Brantley hit some timely jumpers to keep the pressure on Alfred. 

However, the Saxons held Utica to just two points over the final four minutes of play while Hind led Alfred back to within eight points at the half at 36-28. 

The sides traded blows to open up the second half but despite Utica keeping pace, a pair of Alfred threes turned it into a 44-43 game in favor of Utica with 14:22 to go. 

That moment would signal as close as the Saxons would come throughout the rest of the contest. 

A layup by Call followed by back-to-back buckets by Foley created some breathing room for the Pioneers while Morreale and Bourgault would later combine for seven points in a stretch to put the team ahead 60-50 with 6:30 to play. 

While the Saxons came back within six points with 5:30 to go, Morreale connected for back-to-back three-pointers to essentially put the game out of reach. The Pioneers put the finishing touches on the contest from the free-throw line to advance to the 2023-24 Empire 8 Championship. 

Utica (23-3, 15-1 Empire 8) will host the second-seeded Nazareth University Golden Flyers (19-7, 14-2 Empire 8) in the Empire 8 Conference Championship on Saturday. Tip-off from Miga Court is set for 2 p.m.