The Keuka College Men’s Basketball team secured a thrilling 74-72 victory over St. John Fisher on Friday evening. This is the first win for the Wolves against the Cardinals since joining the Empire 8 conference.
Marcus Reed (Queens, N.Y. / Our Savior Lutheran) led the Wolves with 17 points, shooting 6-10 from the field, including three three-pointers. Tyler Green (Sackets Harbor, N.Y. / Sackets Harbor) added 13 points, while Amar Jackson (Bronx, N.Y./ Fredick Douglas Academy) contributed 12 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.
Keuka started strong, fueled by Marcus Reed’s hot shooting. Reed scored seven of the team’s first nine points, including a jumper and a three-pointer, to give Keuka an early lead. Tyler Green added key baskets, including a three-pointer five minutes into the half, as the Wolves increased their lead to 19-9. St. John Fisher gradually closed the gap going on a 12-4 run to take the lead with five minutes remaining in the half. Keuka battled back tying the game at 28-28 with just under three minutes remaining then regained the lead momentarily with a layup by Makya Morrison (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta). Two late free throws by the Cardinals tied the game at 30-30 heading into the break.
The Wolves came out firing in the second half, with Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) knocking down a three-pointer to give Keuka a 35-32 lead. St. John Fisher battled back, taking a one-point lead, but Will Tehan (Victor, N.Y/ / Victor) sank a three off his own steal to retake control of the game. Tyler Green scored eight of his 13 points in the second half, providing steady scoring as the two schools traded baskets throughout the middle of the second half. Ultimately, the Wolves found themselves trailing by 5 points with 8 minutes remaining, but Marcus Reed answered with two three-pointers to put Keuka back on top. Down the stretch, Makya Morrison hit two clutch free throws with 2:17 left to give the Wolves a 66-64 lead, and Amar Jackson added a fast-break layup off his own steal to extend the lead to four. Tyler Green added a layup late, to give the Wolves a six-point lead and helped hold off a late rally by St. John Fisher to earn the 74-72 win.
KC Notes:
- Keuka College gets their fourth win in the all-time series against St. John Fisher to move to 4-29
- The Wolves snapped a 20-game losing streak against the Cardinals, with the last Keuka win in the 1996-97 season
- This was the first win for Keuka against St. John Fisher while in the Empire 8 Conference
- Tyler Green’s 13 points gave him a new career-high in a season with 104 on the season, beating his 92 points in the 2022-23 season while playing at Cazenovia College
- Amar Jackson led the Wolves in rebounds with nine
- Jackson also contributed four assists and four steals
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here