BROCKPORT, N.Y. — For the first time in Keuka College history, the Men's Basketball team won the Empire 8 Conference Championship, defeating SUNY Brockport 83-80 in the championship game on Saturday afternoon.
Tournament MVP Lamar Lovelace (Rochester, N.Y. / Northeast College Prep) led Keuka College (15-13, 9-7 Empire 8) with 24 points. He was one of four Wolves in double figures. Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) added 17 for the Wolves. Kaleb Nutifafa (Elmsford, N.Y. / Alexander Hamilton) and Makya Morrison (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta) each added 10 in the win.
#7 Keuka College 83 at #5 SUNY Brockport 80 – Empire 8 Championship
The Wolves jumped out to a 9-4 lead over Brockport in the opening minutes as Akinlana Popoola hit a triple for the Wolves. The Golden Eagles fought back but a step back three by Lovelace pushed the lead back to five. The three-point shooting of the hosts kept them in the game as Brockport started the game 5-9 from three. The Wolves put together a run and grew the lead as the half went on. Noreon Williams (Syracuse, N.Y. / Henninger) had a put-back layup to make it 32-23 Keuka as Brockport took a timeout. Out of the break, the Wolves continued as Williams hit a corner three and then Lamar Lovelace got a rebound and found a leaking Malik Junious Fuller (Queens, N.Y. / The Patrick School (N.J.)) for a fast-break layup as the Wolves took a 37-23 lead. Brockport closed the first half strong. They scored 10 of the last 12, including the final seven points to cut into the lead, but Keuka College remained ahead 42-38 at the half.
SUNY Brockport stayed hot to start the second half as they would take a 47-45 lead over the Wolves. Keuka College steadied the run to regain the lead. Ty LaBarge (Cobleskill, N.Y. / Cobleskill-Richmondville) got an offensive rebound and was fouled. He made both shots as Keuka took a 55-49 lead over the Golden Eagles. The Wolves continued to build their lead. Lamar Lovelace had a steal and big dunk for the Green and Gold. Quinn VanKerkhove (Irondequoit, N.Y. / Irondequoit) then beat the shot clock and hit a three to make it 64-52 midway through the frame. After Brockport cut into the margin, Akinlana Popoola hit a deep three for the Wolves to push the advantage back to nine. However, the hosts would continue to cut into the Keuka lead as it would be a one-possession game with five minutes remaining. The Golden Eagles went up by one, but Lamar Lovelace drove to the basket to give the Wolves the lead back. Popoola hit a corner three for the Wolves. Brockport stepped into a three with 1:15 remaining to make it 81-79. It would be a one-point game in the final seconds. The Wolves had the ball and Malik Junious-Fuller was fouled with nine seconds left. The first-year went 2-2 from the line to make the lead three. Brockport had a late three to tie miss and the ball rolled to the floor as the buzzer sounds and the Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 83-80.
KC Notes:
- The win marks the first Empire 8 Conference Championship in any sport in school history
- The Wolves will gain the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. It will be Keuka College's first-ever trip to the big dance in program history
- The Men's Basketball team improves to 2-1 all-time in conference championship games. Their previous victory came in 2002 as a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference without the qualifier
Up Next for Keuka College: With the NCAA Tournament ahead, Keuka College will find out who, when, and where they will play at 1 p.m. on Monday when the NCAA releases the bracket as a part of their selection show on NCAA.com.
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