Utica University scored the first six points and the Pioneers led the whole way in a 76-70 non-conference win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Thursday evening.
 
How It Happened

• Hamilton shifted the momentum in the second half as it outscored Utica 47-37. The Continentals used a 6-0 run to cut the Pioneers lead to 14 points at 48-34 with 13:09 remaining.
• Hamilton continued to chip away and closed within single digits at 61-52 with 6:30 remaining. The Continentals hadn't been closer than 10 points since it was 25-16 with seven minutes left in the first half.
• The Continentals cut their deficit to three points at 73-70 with 36.2 seconds left, but Utica went 3-for-4 at the charity stripe and Hamilton missed its last five shots in the final 30 seconds.
• Utica built a 21-10 lead midway through the first half. The Pioneers were 4 of 8 from behind the 3-point line and led by as many as 19 points in the first half. 
• Hamilton shot 46 percent (17-37) from the field in the second half and 39.7 percent overall. The Continentals went 9-for-12 at the free-throw line. 
• Utica shot 45.2 percent (28-61) from the floor, including 5 of 12 from beyond the arc, and 65.2 percent (15-23) at the line. 
• Both teams collected 38 points in the paint. 
• Hamilton owned a 40-37 edge on the glass. 

Notes

• Hamilton moved to 6-3 on the season.  
• The Pioneers, who are members of the Empire 8 Conference, remain unbeaten with an overall record of 6-0. 
• Conner Rood '23 paced Hamilton with 17 points and tallied four assists. 
• Hank Morgan '25 netted 15 points. 
• Eric Anderson '23 registered 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Anderson was 4 of 7 from long range.
• Liam Regan '23 scored a season-best 10 points off the bench.
• Darius Hopkins led Utica with 23 points and four assists, and was 3 of 4 from 3-point range. 
• Justice Brantley contributed 18 points, Avery Coston added 13 and Thomas Morreale chipped in 11 for the Pioneers. 
• Utica's Griffin Barasa collected a team-best 10 rebounds and made four steals. 

Next Game

• Hamilton returns to Margaret Bundy Scott Field House for another non-conference game against Lehman College (6-3) on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.