Utica, NY- Sage's men's basketball team travelled to Utica College on Tuesday night for the 2019-2020 Empire 8 opener for both teams. Utica College collected the league win after downing Sage, 82-64. With the win, Utica is now 10-2 and 1-0 in the conference. The loss snaps the Gators' three-game win streak and puts Sage at 7-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Sage's sophomore guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow) finished with 16 points to lead Sage after making 8-of-11 shots from the floor. Sophomore forward Charles Davis (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hamer) chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Deonte Sherwood (Orange Park, FL/Oakleaf) added 10 points, while senior guard Darius Denmark (Orlando, FL/Evans) racked up seven points for Sage, which trailed 43-34 at the break.
Sophomore center Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School) hauled in five rebounds with seven points and a blocked shot. Phair is now 10th on the Gator career block list with 30.
After Tuesday's contest, senior captain Anthony Mitchell (Bronx, NY/Salesian) surpassed his 500th career point plateau after adding four points in the game with Utica and now has 503 points. He is the program's 12th all-time leading scorer, while standing seventh in career rebounding with 316 boards. He is also third with his 99 career steals. Denmark boasts 141 career assists which puts him in seventh place on the career list, just four shy of moving past Travis Gill (144, 2014-2016).
Utica was paced by the play of Thomas Morreale who led all players with his 31 points and 13 rebounds after hitting 11-of-14 shots from the floor. He was also 4-5 from three-point range and had nine defensive rebounds as well. Utica shot 71.4% from three point range in the first half(5-of-7) and finished the day making 11 of 21 three pointers for a 52.4% shooting average from down town.
Sage is back in action on January 10 travelling to Hartwick College for an Empire 8 contest at 5:30 with the Hawks.
