BRADFORD, Pa. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the second half to win 82-78 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on Friday night in a non-conference game.
Continuing to lead the way for Keuka College (5-2) was Devin Milton (Opelousas, La. / Beau Chene). The senior set a new career-high with 33 points. He also led either team with game-high nine rebounds. Backing up Milton was Daniel Obunse (Queens, N.Y. / Flushing) with 15 points. Mason VanDeMortel (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) and Alijah Ellis (Portsmouth, Va. / Indian River / Fork Union Military Academy) each added nine in the win.
Keuka College 82 at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 78
The Wolves took an early five-point lead over the Panthers in the opening minutes and Keuka would play with the advantage for most of the opening nine minutes. An 8-0 run flipped the lead to Pitt.-Bradford. Daniel Obunse hit a three to end the run and cut it to a three-point game 19-16 with nine minutes left in the half. Obunse would score the next six for the Wolves, answering some Bradford baskets, cutting the lead to two, but Keuka College could not get off the two-point margin. The hosts would widen their lead back to eight points. The Wolves attempted to cut into it, but each basket was answered by the Panthers. Pitt.-Bradford led by eight, 41-33, at the half.
The Wolves were unable to get the margin any lower than eight in the opening minutes of the second half. Alijah Ellis converted a three-point play five minutes in to cut it to seven. Then after a Panthers basket, Devin Milton drained a three to make it 51-45. A pair of Milton free throws cut the lead to four, 59-55, midway through the half. Keuka College would continue to cut into the lead until Devin Milton made a pair of free throws to tie the game at 66-66. Minutes later, a Daniel Obunse three with three minutes left gave the Wolves a 72-70 lead. Following a Pitt.-Bradford turnover, Devin Milton hit a three from the wing to push Keuka's lead to five points. The Panthers hit a pair of threes where on the other end Keuka managed just a free throw to tie the game at 76-76. Keuka called a timeout with 40 seconds left in the half. Off of the timeout, Devin Milton worked off a screen and hit a three with 31 seconds left. At the other end, a three by the Panthers rimmed out and the Wolves got the rebound and was fouled. Mason VanDeMortel made one from the line to push the lead to four with 11.8 left. Another three attempt was wide with Devin Milton getting the rebound. Milton made both as he pushed his career-high to 33 points. The Panthers got a late basket but the Wolves held on for the 82-78 victory.
KC Notes:
- Keuka College earns their second win at Bradford in six trips. Overall, the Wolves are 4-8 against the Panthers
- With the win, Keuka College finishes the 2022 portion of its season. They enter the holiday break with the best record since the 2005-06 season
- The career-high 33 for Milton tied for the tenth-most in a game in program history. It was the most points scored in a game since James Barnes scored 33 against Penn College in February 2020
- Milton surpassed 900 career points in the game. The senior enters the winter break with 919 career points
- Keuka College was +3 in rebounding, 35-32. The Wolves are 4-0 when winning the rebounding battle this season
- Dan Obunse tied his season-high with 15 points
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves enter the holiday break with a 5-2 record and a 1-1 mark in the Empire 8. It will be nothing but conference games from the Wolves from here on out. Keuka College returns to the floor on Tuesday, Jan. 3 as Keuka College hosts Nazareth College.