WELLS ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS WITH WIN OVER KEUKA
Middleton, Pa.– The Wells College men's basketball team pulled away with six minutes remaining in the second half as the No. 2 seed Express defeated No. 7 seed Keuka College 77-67 in the quarterfinals of the North Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at Penn. St. Harrisburg in Middleton, Pa. Greg Jones (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) scored a game high 22 points, Rionn Pradia (Houston, Texas/Appomattox) added 17, while Juan Paulino (Bronx, N.Y./Finger Lakes C.C.) finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Express.
Alex Coleman led Keuka in the loss with 21 points, while Calvin Logins chipped in with 17 points and 15 rebounds.
The Storm jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and led 19-11 with 12:01 remaining in the first half. A free-throw shot by Paulino and a lay-up from Terrance Wright (Rochester, N.Y./Finger Lakes C.C.) would spark a gritty comeback by the Express as they clawed their way back to tie the game at 23-23 with 7:54 to go in the half. The two teams continued to battle over the finals minutes as Jones hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to give the Express a 37-35 lead heading into the break.
It was a see-saw game in the second half as the Express would battle to extend their lead to eight points, 58-50, with 9:53 to play in the second half. The Storm would fight back to within four-points, three separate times, over the next nine minutes but were unable to complete the comeback as the Express held on for the 10 point victory.
It is the seventh straight win for the Express who improved to 20-6 on the year with the victory. Wells' advances to tomorrow's semi-final game against No. 3 seed Penn. St. Harrisburg at 1:00 p.m. The Nittany Lions defeated in-state rival No. 6 seed Penn. St. Berks earlier in the afternoon by a score of 92-79. The Express have dominated the two meetings between the two clubs this season, defeating Harrisburg by an average of 19 points, including a record setting 114-88 victory at home on January 30th.
