The Keuka College men’s basketball team closed out the 2025 calendar year on a high note, defeating SUNY Morrisville 80-65 on Saturday at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center.
Senior Lamar Lovelace (Rochester, N.Y. / Northeast College Prep) led the Wolves with 26 points as Keuka College improved to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in Empire 8 play. Fellow senior Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) added 18 points, while sophomore Makya Morrison (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta) chipped in a career-high 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the victory.
Keuka College jumped out to an early advantage behind a pair of three-pointers from Popoola. SUNY Morrisville answered to tie the game at 6-6, but the Wolves quickly regained control. A steal by Amar Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Frederick Douglas Academy) led to a layup by Lovelace, sparking an eight-point lead for the Green and Gold.
The Wolves created separation late in the first half. Popoola drilled his third three-pointer of the half with 7:28 remaining, igniting a 13-0 run over nearly five minutes. Keuka College stretched its lead to 22 points, 38-16, and went into the locker room with a commanding 42-21 advantage.
SUNY Morrisville came out strong in the second half, using a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points. A Mustang three later made it a 48-39 game with 14 minutes remaining. Lovelace responded with a three-pointer of his own, and Marcus Reed (Queens, N.Y. / Our Saviour Lutheran) followed with another from long range as Keuka pushed the lead back to 15.
The Wolves reestablished a 20-point cushion, but the Mustangs continued to battle. An 11-0 run by the visitors trimmed the lead to seven, 65-58, with 4:25 to play. Keuka College answered at the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the 80-65 victory.
KC Notes
- The Wolves earned their second straight win over SUNY Morrisville, though the Mustangs still lead the all-time series 16-10.
- Lovelace finished one point shy of his season high with 26.
- Morrison’s 17 points marked a new career high.
- Ty LaBarge (Cobleskill, N.Y. / Cobleskill-Richmondville) made his first start of the season and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
- Keuka College collected 51 rebounds as a team, raising its season average to 44.56 rebounds per game, which ranked 17th nationally entering the contest.
Up Next
The win sends Keuka College into the winter break with momentum. The Wolves will return to action in 2026 for the heart of their Empire 8 Conference schedule, opening with three straight home games. Keuka College will host Russell Sage College on Friday, January 9.
