The Keuka College Men’s Basketball team erased a 10-point deficit early in the second half to come back and defeat Lycoming College 71-66 at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Wednesday night.
For the second game in a row, Keuka College (2-0) had four starters in double figures. Will Tehan (Victor, N.Y. / Victor) led the way for the Wolves with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Damon Brumfield (Rochester, N.Y. / Irondequoit) scored 19 for Keuka, and Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) netted 16. Tyler Green (Sackets Harbor, N.Y. / Sackets Harbor) rounded out the scorers with 10 points in the win.
The Wolves worked the ball low early as Jaden Keasey (Newport News, Va. / Menchville) scored the first four for the Green and Gold. Three-point shooting then stretched the floor as a three by Tyler Green capped a run giving the Wolves a 15-3 advantage. The Warriors cut into Keuka College’s lead midway through the first half. A 10-0 run for the visitors flipped the game and gave Lycoming a 20-19. Brumfield quickly snapped the lead back to Keuka with a three, but Lycoming answered right back. The Warriors would increase their lead, leading by as many as eight in the half. Keuka got the last basket of the half as Ty LaBarge (Cobleskill, N.Y. / Cobleskill-Richmondville) grabbed a defensive rebound and Akinlana Popoola raced down the floor to lay it in at the buzzer to cut the deficit to six, 38-32, at the half.
Lycoming would extend their lead to ten in the opening minutes, but the Wolves came storming back. One of Will Tehan’s four threes started the fun for the Wolves. An old-fashioned three-point-play by Tyler Green followed and a basket by Popoola tied the game. A three-point-play by Tehan capped the 11 unanswered points for the Wolves as Keuka led 51-48 with 10:45 remaining. Keuka College would not surrender the lead for the rest of the game. Akinlana Popoola drained a three with 3:38 left in the half to give the Wolves a 65-57 advantage. The Warriors did not go away and pushed Keuka to the end. A layup, steal, and layup cut the Keuka advantage to one, 67-66 with 25 seconds left. The Wolves were fouled and Will Tehan made both free throws with 15 seconds remaining. Lycoming missed a three in the final seconds, Damon Brumfield gathered the rebounds and was fouled. He made both of his free throws to secure the 71-66 victory.
KC Notes:
- Despite being just two hours apart, Wednesday was the first time Keuka College has ever faced Lycoming College in men’s basketball
- The 21 points for Will Tehan tied his career high. He also surpassed 500 points for his career on Wednesday night
- Tehan led the way from deep, shooting 4-5 on threes. As a team, Keuka College was 47% from beyond the arc going 8-17
- 47% from three is the best long-ranging shooting for the Wolves since they went 60% from deep in February 2019
- Ty LaBarge played a big role off the bench for the Green and Gold. He was second on the team with six rebounds to set a new career high
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will remain at home on Saturday and look to continue their hot start to the season. Keuka College will host Hilbert College at 2 p.m. at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center. The Wolves will be in search of their first 3-0 start to the season since 2005.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
