Men's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker To Keuka

AURORA, N.Y. – Despite a six-point lead with 1:48 remaining in regulation time, the Wells College men's basketball team posted a tough 65-62 loss to the Wolfpack from Keuka College on Saturday. Wells drops to 4-8 overall on the year and to 2-3 within the North Eastern Athletic Conference while Keuka picks up its first league win of the year in four games.

Wells was led by 17 points from freshman Rich Ross (Bronx, N.Y.), who also picked p a team-best nine rebounds. Junior James Feocco (Auburn, N.Y.) was 5-for-7 from the floor, netting 10 points and six rebounds, while classmate Vaughndell Brantley (Syracuse, N.Y.) dished out five assists. Freshman David Dames (Manhattan, N.Y.) had another excellent game off the bench for the Express, picking up three rebounds and three steals in only 11 minutes of action.

A free throw by Courtney with 1:48 remaining placed Wells ahead by a 62-56 margin, but Keuka made an improbable comeback by rattling off nine-straight points to stun the Express. The Wolfpack was aided by three Express turnovers during the final minutes and a key offensive rebound by Casey Williams off his own miss.

After a layup by Keuka off the offensive board, Wells turned the ball over and Williams made the Express pay, slamming home a dunk to force an Express timeout. Out of the break, a Wells player missed a layup and Keuka battled hard for the rebound and drew a foul.

The two free throws by Williams tied the game and on the ensuing Wells possession, another turnover and a foul sent Williams to the line once more to make the game-winning free throws. The Express got the ball back with two seconds left, but committed a turnover once again before crossing midcourt.

Wells had a sizeable first half lead as they used a dominant 17-0 run to establish a 19-6 lead with 12:31 left in the stanza. Ross made two free throws with 7:12 left, creating a decisive 27-12 lead that ultimately shrank to six points, 32-26, at halftime.

A free throw by Brantley recreated a double-digit lead near the end of the second half, elevating Wells to a 59-49 lead with 5:17 left. Williams, however, scored 11 of his team's 16 points down the stretch to spark a comeback for Keuka.

Williams recorded a career-best 28 points for the Wolfpack. Greg Tyler was Keuka's only other double-digit scorer.

Wells will return to action Wednesday, Jan. 13 as it travels to SUNY Canton for a 5 p.m. contest.