Second-half surge gives men's basketball win at Cazenovia

Second-half surge gives men's basketball win at Cazenovia

The Wells College men's basketball team opened North Eastern Athletic Conference play with a 93-88 victory at Cazenovia College on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Three Wells players scored in double-figures and the Express posted its highest point total since scoring 94 points in a game twice during the 2010-11 season.

Rich Ross led Wells with 34 points, boosted by a 7-for-11 shooting night from behind the 3-point arc. He was 7-for-10 on free-throw attempts. It was a single-game career-best scoring night for Ross, and 28 of his points came in the second half as Wells turned a three-point halftime deficit into a five-point win.

The Express is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NEAC. Cazenovia is 0-5 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.

Wells trailed 38-35 at the break. Vaughndell Brantley scored 13 points in the first half and was 8-for-10 at the free throw line to keep the Express in the game.

Cazenovia built its largest lead of eight points and held a 29-21 lead with 6:32 left in the first half. Wells answered with a 9-3 run to pull within two and the margin remained in single digits into the second half.

After halftime, Wells outscored Cazenovia 19-5 over the first six minutes to take an 11-point lead. The Wildcats whittled away at the Wells lead and went on to build a 75-68 lead with 5:47 left in the second half.

Wells closed the game with a 25-13 run to earn the victory.

Brantley finished the game with 22 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Anthony Nesci led Wells with six assists. Chris Courtney had 13 points.

Wells held a 46-39 rebounding advantage in the game. Cazenovia had 53 free-throw attempts and made 33. Wells was 27-for-37 at the line as the teams were whistled for a combined 63 personal fouls. Wells made 12 shots from behind the arc on 28 attempts.

Wells continues NEAC play this weekend with afternoon games Saturday at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Sunday at SUNY Cobleskill.