Three Double-Doubles Lift Men's Basketball vs. Wilson

AURORA, N.Y. – Three players recorded double-doubles for the Wells College men's basketball team in Saturday's 81-74 victory over the Phoenix from Wilson College. Wells improves to 8-11 overall on the year while evening its North Eastern Athletic Conference record at 6-6. Wilson drops to 4-14 overall and to 3-10 within the league.

Junior James Feocco (Auburn, N.Y.) and freshman Rich Ross (Bronx, N.Y.) each scored 19 points and collected 10 rebounds while junior Vaughndell Brantley (Syracuse, N.Y.) accounted for 17 points and a team-leading 13 rebounds. Sophomore MJ Williams (Tampa, Fla.) poured in 14 points off the bench while junior Chris Courtney (Auburn, N.Y.) led the team with two steals.

Wells opened the game on an 8-0 run through the game's first 1:46 as a fastbreak three-point basket by senior Jordan Bishop (Arlington, Texas) capped off the run. Wilson, however, battled back to take a 19-18 lead following an Ian Frazier three-point basket with 9:27 left in the opening half. Later in the half, however, a jumper from Williams preceded layups from Ross and Brantley to create a 36-26 lead in favor of Wells.

The Express went into the half on a high note as a three-pointer from Williams with two seconds left in the frame established a 42-32 lead through 20 minutes of action. The Express were outshot by a 43.3%-to-36.8% margin from the floor, but Wells made 10-of-12 free throws to carry the momentum into the second half.

In the second half of play, a Courtney trey came before a Feocco jumper to create a game-high 16 point lead in favor of Wells with 5:28 to go in the second half. From that point forward, however, Wilson outscored the Express by a 21-7 margin to cut the score to 75-73 with only 33 seconds left in regulation time.

Forced to foul, however, Wilson sent the Express to the line on six occasions. Ross had four-straight free throw makes while Williams buried the final two free throws to recreate a seven-point lead for Wells as time expired.

Willie McDowell paced Wilson with 25 points. Keion Adams and Marquis Nelson scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, with Adams leading his team with nine rebounds.

Wells returns to action Sunday, Feb. 7, welcoming the Bison from Gallaudet University to Aurora for a 1 p.m. contest.