HOUGHTON, NY— Darius Hopkins and Thomas Morreale combined to score 40 points, leading the Empire 8 front-running Utica Pioneers past the Houghton Highlanders on Friday night, 71-59.
 
The two teams battled throughout the opening minutes before Houghton eventually gained a six point lead on a three from Reece Gustafson with less than six minutes to go before the half.
 
Utica battled back in the ensuing minutes, gaining the lead by one at the 2:50 mark.  Houghton's David Rosa put the Highlanders back in front with a jumper, but the Pioneers closed the half on a 6-0 run, and went to the locker room with a 40-33 advantage.
 
Houghton stayed within striking distance through the first nine minutes, but with 10:50 remaining the Pioneers started a 10-2 run to go up by 18 points. 
 
The Highlanders trimmed the deficit to 12 points after Luke Cole drained a three and Rosa hit a free throw.  But Houghton could not erase more of the Pioneers lead in the closing minutes. 
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 59 | Utica – 71
Records: Houghton: 4-20 (4-11 Empire 8) | Utica: 21-3 (14-1 Empire 8)
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 242

NOTABLE STATS
>> Utica hit 12-of-27 (44 percent) from long range, including nine threes in the first half.  After shooting 48 percent from the floor in the first half, Houghton converted only 32 percent of their shots in the final 20 minutes.
 
>> Billy McCrae led the Highlanders with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Gustafson, Cole and Jordan Holmes each scored nine points apiece.
 
>> Hopkins and Morreale scored 22 and 18 points apiece, respectively, for the Pioneers.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon for their season finale against the Nazareth Golden Flyers at 4:00 p.m.