SUNY Poly Defeats Wells Men's Basketball

The Wells College men's basketball team suffered its first loss in conference play this season when the visiting SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcats won by a 72-67 score on Sunday, Jan. 15 at the Schwartz Athletic Center.

Wells maintained its first-place standing in the North Eastern Athletic Conference North Division with a 6-1 NEAC record. Wells is 8-4 overall this season. SUNY Poly moved into second place in the North at 5-1, and also has an 8-4 overall mark.

The Express overcame a second-half deficit and built a nine-point advantage. Wells led 63-54 with 7:14 remaining in the second half following back-to-back 3-pointers from Chris Courtney and Vaughndell Brantley, and a runner in the lane from Anthony Nesci. SUNY Poly closed the game with an 18-4 run.

Brantley scored a season-high 23 points to lead Wells in scoring. Rich Ross added 17 points and Courtney scored 14. Brantley and Ross each had seven rebounds. Nesci had four assists.

SUNY Poly shot 52 percent from the floor.

Sunday's result meant that the teams split the regular-season matchups, as Wells defeated Poly 66-64 on Dec. 3.

Wells returns to action Wednesday afternoon with a 1 p.m. game at Alfred State.