For the second time in program history, the Utica University men's basketball team has captured the Empire 8 Championship and an automatic berth into the 2023-24 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. The top-seeded Pioneers defeated the second-seeded Nazareth University Golden Flyers, 97-90, on Miga Court to be crowned the champions of the Empire 8 Conference on Saturday. Utica improved to 24-3 this season, while Nazareth falls to 19-8.
Experience paved the way for the Pioneers as Empire 8 Tournament MVP and graduate student, Justice Brantley (6'3''-G), poured in 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor and 4-for-8 from downtown. Damien Call (6'4''-F) was a menace around the rim with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go with a team high eight boards.
Thomas Morreale (6'5''-F) added a second Empire 8 championship to his outstanding Utica career as he contributed 17 points (6-6 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT). Luke Bourgault (6'4''-G/F) had 13 points and seven rebounds while Hagen Foley (6'3''-F) dropped 12.
It would be Foley and Morreale who opened up the game with back-to-back three-pointers to give Utica a quick 6-0 edge. Nazareth would storm back trailing just 10-9 at the 14:27 mark as the team's offense heated up. Brantley canned a deep triple, yet the teams exchanged buckets knotting the contest at 20-20.
Bourgault nailed a pair of triples to push the Utica lead to six yet the Golden Flyers responded with a three-pointer of their own to even the score at 36-36 late in the first half. Damien Call rose up for a pretty layup to give Utica a 40-38 edge after the first half.
The teams opened the second half with a pair of buckets and a Damien Call five-point scoring run gave Utica a 49-45 lead at the 16:38 mark. Brantley and Morreale hit some tough jumpers to push the Pioneers advantage to 59-51 at the 12:47 mark.
Hagen Foley and Brantley continued to hit clutch shots as the team led 68-56 with 9:19 remaining in the game. Utica's offense continued to be reliable, leading 75-62 yet Nazareth canned a pair of triples to cut the lead to just 75-70 at the 5:14 mark.
Foley and Brantley each converted huge three pointers to extend the lead to 81-72 with just over four minutes remaining. The Pioneers led 85-73 with under two minutes to play yet the Golden Flyers used an eight-point run to cut it to 92-89 with 27 seconds to play. Utica made its free throws with a Foley dunk sealing the 97-90 Empire 8 Championship victory.
The Pioneers shot 60 percent from the field (20-for-33) and 14-of-18 from the line in the second half.
Logan Blankenburg led five Golden Flyers in double figures, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jaylen Savage and Jordan Haggard had 17 points apiece, while Luke Insley had 14 points and 10 assists.

Courtesy of empire8.com

Empire8 Final: Utica - Nazareth 97-90

Empire8 Semifinals:
Utica - Alfred 70-61
Nazareth - St. John Fisher 92-85

Empire8 Quarterfinals:
St. John Fisher - Houghton 79-65
Keuka - Alfred 60-80

All-Tournament MVP: Justice Brantley (6'3''-G) of Utica
Player of the Year: Daniel Cook (6'6''-F) of St.John Fisher
Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Cook (6'6''-F) of St.John Fisher
Rookie of the Year: Henry Perkins (6'8''-F) of Hartwick
Coach of the Year: Sean Coffey of Utica

All-Empire8 First Team 2024

Milton

Blankenberg

Cook

Brantley

Call

First Team
Devin Milton (6'2''-G) of Keuka
Logan Blankenberg (6'4''-G) of Nazareth,
Daniel Cook (6'6''-F) of St.John Fisher
Justice Brantley (6'3''-G) of Utica
Damien Call (6'4''-F) of Utica

All-Empire8 Second Team 2024

Valenzuela

Preaster

Haggard

Savage

Sage

Second Team
Franlys Valenzuela (6'8''-F) of Alfred
Jajuan Preaster (6'4''-F) of Houghton
Jordan Haggard (6'4''-G) of Nazareth,
Jaylen Savage (6'2''-G) of Nazareth,
Christian Sage (5'10''-PG) of Keuka

All-Empire8 Third Team 2024

Enders

Cardello

Thomas

Girard

McRoy

Third Team
Adam Enders (6'2''-G) of Alfred
Tyler Cardello (6'4''-F) of Elmira
Preston Thomas (6'5''-G) of Houghton
Noah Girard (5'11''-PG) of Russell Sage
Brendan McRoy (6'1''-G) of St.John Fisher

Empire8 All-Sportsmanship Team 2024

Wolter

Artuz

Barber

Cole

Broderick

All-Sportsmanship Team
Oscar Wolter (6'6''-F) of Alfred
Marc Artuz (6'2''-G) of Elmira
Shea Barber (6'3''-G) of Hartwick
Luke Cole (6'6''-F) of Houghton
Ezeke Pulliam (6'1''-G) of Keuka
Jack Broderick (6'1''-G) of Nazareth,
Marcus Gentile (6'1''-G) of Russell Sage
Connor Recore (6'5''-F) of St.John Fisher
Neruda Perdomo (5'11''-PG) of Utica