Keuka Knocks Off Three-Time Defending NEAC Champ Morrisville State

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Junior Tyler Hixson (Shortsville, NY/Red Jacket) scored a career-high 25 points as the Keuka College men's basketball team knocked off three-time North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) champion Morrisville State 81-60 Tuesday night in Morrisville, N.Y.

Hixson was one of four Storm (3-2, 1-0 NEAC) student-athletes to score in double-figures. Junior Trevor Healey (Wethersfield, CT/Wethersfield) added 13 points, classmate Jared Wagner (Pittsford, NY/McQuaid) tallied 12 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists while sophomore Casey Williams (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) scored 11 points in the win.

Hixson also snared seven rebounds for the Green and Gold, who outrebounded the taller Mustangs (2-3, 0-1 NEAC) 40-34.

The Storm shot 29-for-58 (50 percent) for the game, including 11-for-21 (52.4 percent) in knocking off Morrisville State, which advanced into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament in 2012-13.

"We beat Morrisville at our place and split with them last year, and our guys knew we could compete with them," fourth-year head coach Thad Phillips said.

"Any win is a good win, but to get a big conference road win like this is great, and a win like this is a step in the right direction for our program. Now we have to build on this win."

An efficient Storm offense got a kick-start feeding the ball into the post for Hixson and Healey, who combined to shoot 14-for-27 (51.9 percent).

Sophomore Miles Boyer (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) came off the bench to contribute eight points with four rebounds, making all four of his shots from the floor.

"We just executed and if we can continue to do those things, we will be a good team," Phillips said. "We got our guys the ball in situations where they could score, and our guys came through and made baskets tonight. We did a great job of pounding the ball down low and Tyler and Trevor made some big baskets for us. When we execute on offense and defense, we can beat any team in our conference."

Healey, Williams and sophomore Vinney Zambito (Elba, NY/Batavia Notre Dame) each added three assists for Keuka, which had 16 assists on 29 baskets and only committed nine turnovers.

Jordan Prior scored 13 points and Brandon Hanks added 12 for Morrisville State, but the duo did their damage while shooting 9-for-27 (33.3 percent).

Keuka returns to action with a home game against NEAC rival Wells College at 6 p.m. December 4.