Season-Opening Win For Wells Men's Basketball

The Wells College men's basketball team opened its season with a 74-66 victory over Alfred University at home on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Schwartz Center. Wells is 1-0 on the season and Alfred is 0-1.

Four Wells players scored in double-figures and the team shot 53 percent from the floor in pulling away for an eight-point lead. It was the first time in program history that Wells started its season with a victory.

Ayodele Akinmola led Wells with 21 points in his debut for the Express after playing the last two seasons at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The junior point guard also had a team-high six assists and added eight rebounds. Rich Ross scored 17 points, and Chris Courtney and James Feocco each scored 10 points.

A back-and-forth first half saw Alfred hold a slight advantage over the first seven minutes. Wells took its first lead of the game on a layup by Jalen Ewell with 12:50 left in the half. An 11-2 run by Wells in the middle portion of the first half turned a two-point deficit into a 26-19 lead. The run included baskets in the paint from Akimola and Vaughndell Brantley and a 3-pointer from Ross. Wells led 35-33 at halftime.

In the second half, Wells pulled away and ran out to a 16-point lead, behind a big run that extended a 47-41 advantage all the way out to a 65-49 lead. Alfred responded with 10 straight points and climbed back to within single digits in the closing minutes, but couldn't get closer than six points.

The Express defense contested the perimeter and limited the Saxons to just five successful 3-pointers in 25 attempts.

Wells returns to action Friday, Nov. 18 at Houghton College at 7 p.m.