Bryant also finished with nine rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Pioneers (5-1). Sophomore Doug Herring (Poughkeepsie) added 11 points and six assists and senior Chris Bitetto (Levittown/Island Trees) scored nine points.
Sophomore Carson Niehoff (West Islip) matched his career high with 14 points to lead Cortland (3-4). Senior Dave Maggiacomo (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) made 3-of-6 three-pointers and finished with 13 points and senior Rod Headley (Peekskill) tallied 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Utica led 31-17 with five minutes left in the first half, but Cortland finished the half on a 16-8 run and trailed 39-33 at halftime. The Red Dragons then scored the first seven points of the second half on baskets by Headley and senior Dave Jutton (Red Hook) and a Niehoff three-pointer and led 40-39 with 17:38 remaining.
Bryant, however, took over at that point. He made two three-pointers and two other shots to start a 14-0 run for the Pioneers. Baskets by Herring and Jack Lighthall (Boonville/Adirondack) completed the stretch and gave Utica a 53-40 lead with 13:24 left. The hosts held a double-figure lead the rest of the game.