The Keuka College Men’s Basketball team lost on Saturday 87-58 in an Empire 8 Conference game at Nazareth University.
Keuka College (6-10, 3-5 Empire 8) was led by Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) with 13 points. First-year guard Quinn VanKerkhove (Irondequoit, N.Y. / Irondequoit) scored a career-best 12 points. Will Tehan (Victor, N.Y. / Victor) was also in double figures with 10 points and led the Wolves with six rebounds.
Keuka College’s zone defense did a good job clogging the lanes for Nazareth and forcing misses in the opening minutes. However, at the other end, Nazareth’s tight man defense limited opportunities for the Wolves as the hosts led 6-3 six minutes into the game. The Wolves cut into the deficit. Akinlana Popoola forced a steal at midcourt and raced in for a layup to tie the game at 10-10. Keuka College would take a 12-10 lead, but Nazareth would go on a 19-4 run over the next nine minutes to take control of the first half. The Wolves scored the last four points of the half but trailed Nazareth 29-18 at the break.
The Wolves cut the margin to single digits early in the half but then were outscored 30-9 over an eight-minute stretch. Nazareth made six threes during the run. The Golden Flyers shot 64% from three in the second half with nine threes in the frame. The Wolves got a couple of late threes by Zach Bealer (Montgomery, N.Y. / Valley Central) but the game was in hand as Nazareth defeated Keuka College on Saturday.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves have lost 12 straight to Nazareth and are 6-27 all-time against the Golden Flyers
- To go with his team lead in rebounding, Will Tehan also led the Wolves with three assists
- The season-high for VanKerkhove was aided by his aggressive play. He went 8-9 from the free-throw line
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night. Keuka College will face Elmira College in Elmira for their first of two Empire 8 clashes this season.
