The Keuka College Men’s Basketball team continued their push for the postseason as the Wolves won their third straight, defeating Elmira College 69-65 at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Tuesday night.
Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) led Keuka College (9-14, 6-9 Empire 8) with 22 points in the Empire 8 Conference victory. Makya Morrison (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta) scored 16 points and Marcus Reed (Queens, N.Y. / Our Saviour Lutheran) recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
The visitors jumped out to an 8-0 lead over the Wolves in the first two minutes, forcing Keuka to use a timeout. The Wolves used a second timeout minutes later as Elmira led 12-2. The Green and Gold steadied the ship and cut into the Elmira lead. A pair of threes by Popoola helped get Keuka College rolling. The junior guard then completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a five-point game with 11 minutes left in the half. The Wolves shrunk the margin down to one at 21-20, but Elmira responded with seven straight. The Soaring Eagles took a 12-point lead, their largest of the half, in the final minute, but Marcus Reed hit a three for the Wolves to make it a nine-point game, 41-32, at the half.
Elmira scored the first basket of the second half, but the Wolves responded with a 13-0 run. The final basket, a layup by Makya Morrison, gave Keuka College a 45-43 advantage, their first lead of the game. Elmira would tie the game twice, but the Wolves regained the lead each time and would not trail the rest of the contest. Akinlana Popoola got a steal on the defensive end and Amar Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Frederick Douglas Academy) laid it in on the break to give Keuka College a 61-53 lead, their largest of the game. Elmira College would cut into the margin as the game went down to the final minute. Elmira went to the free throw line with 47 seconds remaining and down one, 65-64. The Soaring Eagles went 1-2 as the game was tied at 65-65. On the next possession for the Wolves, Morrison made a layup to give Keuka a 67-65 lead with 28 seconds left to play. Elmira had multiple chances under the basket in the final seconds but were unable to convert. The rebound went out of bounds with Elmira retaining possession with six seconds left. Their inbounds pass went wide and turned the ball over to Keuka. Amar Jackson got the ball for the Wolves and made both of his free throws to ice the game, giving Keuka College a 69-65 victory.
KC Notes:
- Keuka College avenged their loss at Elmira College earlier this season. The Wolves are now 10-7 all-time at home against the Soaring Eagles and 13-22 overall
- Akinlana Popoola hit the 20-point plateau for the seventh time this season
- Popoola hit five of Keuka’s eight threes giving him an even 50 on the season
- As a team, Keuka went 8-18 from deep. 44.4% shooting was their second-best three-point percentage on the season
- Makya Morrison tied his season-high with 16 points
- Marcus Reed became the third different player to record a double-double this season for Keuka College
- Jaden Keasey (Newport News, Va. / Menchville) led the Wolves with 12 rebounds. The senior had seven offensive boards, a season-high
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves have one final game in the regular season, and everything is on the line. Keuka College will host Utica University on Wednesday night at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center. The Wolves will need to defeat the Pioneers to earn the final spot in the Empire 8 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.
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