More news about: Keuka

KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team defeated SUNY Geneseo 81-76 in an Empire 8 Conference game on Friday night at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center.

Keuka College (5-8, 2-3 Empire 8) had a pair of Wolves score in the twenties with leading with 22. followed with 20 points and added four assists. was also in double-figures with 12 points in the win.

Both teams featured a high-paced defensive effort in the opening minutes. found under the basket on an inbounds play to tie the game at 2-2 3:31 into the contest. Geneseo responded, however, with a 9-0 run forcing Keuka into a timeout. knocked down a three to stop the run for the Knights. Akinlana Popoola followed with a three for the Wolves as Keuka began to cut into the deficit. Six minutes following the timeout, the Wolves completed the comeback as Marcus Reed drained a three with getting the assist to give the Wolves a 20-18 lead. Green and Popoola later hit back-to-back threes for the Green and Gold to push the lead to seven with four minutes left in the half. Popoola put the cap on a 10-0 run for Keuka with Geneseo taking a timeout. The Knights drew the game closer in the final minutes, but Keuka College led 34-29 at the half.

It was a strong offensive start for both teams out of the locker room for the second half. The Wolves pushed the lead out to nine, but SUNY Geneseo answered, cutting it to four. The Wolves responded quickly, however, as a pair of layups from Tyler Green sandwiched a block by Amar Jackson on the defensive end. Geneseo took a timeout, but the Wolves kept rolling as Jaden Keasey stole the ball and Tyler Green hit a three to give Keuka a 54-43 lead with 11 minutes left to play. The Knights did not go away as they scored eight unanswered to cut the lead to there. Jaden Keasey had a second-chance layup for the Wolves to end the run. Later, a pair of free throws tied the game at 58-58, but on the ensuing possession, KJ Freeman drove the basket and was fouled. The graduate student made the free throw. That would shift the game in Keuka's favor for the rest of the contest. The Wolves never led by more than six points. SUNY Geneseo made it a two-point game with 22 seconds remaining. Akinlana Popoola was fouled and went to the line shooting a one-and-one. The junior made both free throws. He was later fouled again with four seconds left in a three-point game. Again, he delivered both free throws as the Wolves defeated the Knights 81-76.

The Wolves will look to continue the momentum as they welcome another conference newcomer to David M. Sweet Court on Saturday. SUNY Brockport will come to town. It is SUNY Brockport's first season in the Empire 8 Conference and the first meeting between the Wolves and Golden Eagles in 16 years.