UTICA, N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – The Utica University men’s basketball opened their season Tuesday night against Morrisville, coming off of their best season in program history having won the regular season Empire 8 title by going 23-4 overall and 15-1 in the conference last year.

They were led by defending Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year Darius Hopkins, he led the team in points tonight with 25, and joining Hopkins on the court is a former E8 Rookie of the Year, Whitesboro grad Tommy Morreale. Morreale had 22 on Tuesday along with 6 boards and 3 blocks, and Utica opened their season with a win, 94-81.