KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – Junior E.J. Taylor (Tampa Bay, Fla.) set the program record for most three-point baskets in one game as the Wells College men's basketball team posted an 83-65 victory over the Storm of Keuka College Wednesday evening at the Weed Arts Center. With the victory, the Express improve to 7-9 overall on the season and to 3-3 within North Eastern Athletic Conference play. The Storm fall to 6-9 overall and to 4-3 within league play.
In the game, Taylor poured home nine three-point baskets in 13 total chances, shattering the program record for most converted three-pointers in one game. Both Greg Jones and Rionn Pradia accomplished the feat for the 2009-10 Wells College men's basketball team, with Jones accomplishing the feat most recently (at Cazenovia, Feb. 17, 2010). Pradia remains the only player in program history to strike for six three-pointers two separate times (vs. Green Mountain, Jan. 16, 2010; at SUNYIT, Feb. 6, 2010).
Taylor's 36 total points in one game place him in a tie for second place all-time in program history, tying Juan Paulino who also scored 36 against Penn St.-Harrisburg on Feb. 21, 2010. Taylor finished two points shy of Darrell Bullock's all-time mark of 38 points, set against Cazenovia on Feb. 22, 2009. His three-point field goal percentage in this evening's contest (.692, 9-of-13) also places him third all-time in individual game history.
Additionally, the Express as a team tied the all-time record for most free throws made in one game with 28 successful shots from the charity stripe. In doing so, the Express tied the all-time mark, originally set against SUNY Cobleskill on Feb. 25, 2011. The team's three-point field goal percentage of .524 (11-of-21) this evening ranks second all-time, as does their 43 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Express trailed only once in the contest but jumped out to a 7-0 lead within the game's first 2:32. Sparked by the first of Taylor's nine three-pointers, junior Jonathan Hurtado (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and J.J. Walton (Ocala, Fla.) each followed with a two-point basket to extend an early lead.
Back-to-back Taylor three pointers near the midpoint of the half preceded foul shots from both Taylor and Hurtado, opening up a 10 point lead with 10:13 remaining in the first half, their largest lead of the stanza. A Teddy Tuggles three-pointer with 1:43 remaining in the first temporarily tied the game, but a Tyler Walker (Spencer, N.Y.) layup preceded two Ryan Hood (Massillon, Ohio) foul shots to re-establish a four point advantage.
A Trevor Healey foul shot with 18:38 left in the second half granted the host Storm a 32-31 lead, but an Al Paul (Elmont, N.Y.) layup only 16 seconds later placed the Express ahead for good. Wells capped off their strong second half with a Hood layup with eight seconds left to grant the Express their largest lead of the evening, an 18 point cushion, as time expired.
Cumulatively, Taylor led the way with 36 points in the contest while also tallying a team-best six assists and four steals. Hurtado posted 16 points for the Express, converting a team-best eight chances from the charity stripe. Paul finished two boards short of the first double-double of his career, posting 10 points and eight boards. Walton ranked second on the squad with four assists. As a team, the Express were 11-for-21 from three point range, including a perfect mark (6-for-6) in the second half.
For Keuka, Healey posted a team-best 23 points after burying 10-of-19 from the field. Tuggles ranked second on the squad with 10 points to his credit while Jared Wagner popped two of his team's three attempts from the perimeter. Casey Williams tied Tuggles with five assists in the contest.
The Express return to action Saturday, Jan. 19 as they face-off against the Nittany Lions of Penn St.-Abington in a 4:00 p.m. road tilt. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).