Junior Jared Wagner (Pittsford, NY/McQuaid) scored a career-high 20 points to spark the Keuka College men's basketball team to a 92-62 win over Alfred State Tuesday night inside the Weed Physical Arts Center.
Wagner was one of three Keuka (1-1) student-athletes to score in double-figures, and one of six student-athletes with seven or more points. He connected on 8 of 13 shots, including hitting on 4 of 6 three-pointers as the Green and Gold went 10-for-21 (47.6 percent) on 3s.
Junior Adam Starks (Wellsville, NY/Andover) scored 14 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists in just 17 minutes while classmate Tyler Hixson (Shortsville, NY/Red Jacket) chipped in with 12 points in 18 minutes for the Green and Gold.
"We started the game pounding the ball inside so much, they had to sink down, and that opened up our 3s and those two guys (Wagner and Starks) can spot up and shoot it," fourth-year head coach Thad Phillips said.
"Between Wagner and Starks, they were 6 of 8 on 3s, so when they're locked in, they're locked in. … Tonight, we came out for 40 minutes and we pretty much competed. We ran our offense extremely well in spots. We got a 'W' and in the long run, that's what's important for our program, getting some wins."
Junior Trevor Healey (Wethersfield, CT/Wethersfield) scored 7 points with 8 rebounds and 4 steals while sophomore Casey Williams (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) added seven points with six rebounds as the Storm outrebounded the Pioneers (0-3) 53-19, including 29-6 on the offensive glass.
"I'm very proud, always good to win, we're still a young program that is building, and every win is a good win," Phillips said. "The good news about wins like tonight is we were able to get a lot of guys in and get some experience and everybody contributed in the win."
Sophomore Vinney Zambito (Elba, NY/Batavia Notre Dame) handed out a career-high seven assists to go with five rebounds while classmate Kyle Maclean (South Africa, Westville) added a career-high eight points on 4 of 5 shooting for the Storm, who shot 48 percent (36-for-75) for the game.
Williams snared a game-high five offensive rebounds while Starks and sophomore Yegor Dukashin (Rhinebeck, NY/Red Hook) each grabbed four offensive rebounds in the win.
The game was tied at 22 until the Storm went on an 11-0 run to seize control. Wagner and classmate Joe Tortolon (Dundee, NY/Dundee) each buried three-pointers, Healey converted a three-point play and Wagner grabbed a rebound and made the put-back to cap the run. Keuka would outscore the Pioneers 25-4 to close out the first half with a 47-26 lead.
The Storm scored their most points in regulation since a 106-90 setback vs. Penn State-Harrisburg (2/20/10).
Keuka travels to Rochester, N.Y. to compete in the annual Harold J. Brodie Tournament at RIT this Friday and Saturday. The Storm will meet Baptist Bible College at 6 p.m. Friday night, and then will either play in the consolation game (1 p.m.) or the title game (3 p.m.) Saturday.