KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — Keuka College senior Devin Milton (Opelousas, La. / Beau Chene) got a last-second shot off and was fouled with 0:00 on the clock in a tie game. The senior stepped up and made his first free throw to give the Keuka College Men's Basketball team a 90-89 victory over Houghton University on Friday night.  

Milton led all scorers with 29 points on Friday. For the first time this season, five Keuka College (8-14, 4-13) players had double-digit points. Isaac McIlroy (Watkins Glen, N.Y. / Watkins Glen) posted 14 points. Will Tehan (Victor, N.Y. / Victor) finished with 12 and Lorenzo Bicknese (Somers, N.Y. / Somers) and Mason VanDeMortel (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) each finished with 11 in the win.

Keuka College 90 vs. Houghton University 89

The lead traded hands early with both teams answering each other's baskets. That would be a trend in the game as there would be 14 lead changes on the night. A three by Lorenzo Bicknese gave the Wolves an 11-10 lead. Alijah Ellis (Portsmouth, Va. / Indian River / Fork Union Military Academy) followed with a steal and found Ezeke Pulliam (Knox, N.Y. / Berne-Knox-Westerlo) on the break for the layup, forcing Houghton into a timeout. The Highlanders responded on the back of three-point shooting by senior Reece Gustafson. He went 6-9 from deep in the first half to lead all scorers at the break. The final three by Gustafson pushed the Highlander lead to 11 points, 39-28, their largest of the game. The Wolves cut quickly into the margin with three-point shooting of their own. Back-to-back threes by Milton and Pulliam made it a five-point game. Milton later converted an old-fashioned three-point play. A pair of free throws by Alijah Ellis capped the 11-0 run for the Wolves as Keuka tied the game at 39-39. The Highlanders scored six straight to regain the lead. Will Tehan had a three-point play in the final seconds for the Wolves, but Houghton remained ahead 47-44 at the half.

Keuka College scored the first five points of the second half, capped by a three by Bicknese to make it 49-47 in favor of the Wolves. The Wolves extended their lead to four, but Houghton responded with 10 straight to regain a 56-53 advantage. Houghton later extended their lead to seven, but the three-point shooting of Isaac McIlroy pulled the Wolves right back into the game. Two straight threes by the junior quickly made it a one-point game. The Highlanders pushed their lead back to six, but McIlroy hit another three and, following a block by Mason VanDeMortel, Devin Milton drained a triple to tie the game at 73-73. The Wolves later took the lead, but Houghton took it right back. Consecutive threes by Bicknese and Milton flipped the game back in favor of the Wolves, 84-80 with five minutes left to play. The Wolves would eventually carry a two-point lead, 89-87 into the final minute. Houghton had a chance to take the lead, but Devin Milton had a big block on a three-point attempt. The Wolves, however, were unable to take advantage. Houghton would get a basket with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 89-89. The Wolves did not take a timeout. They worked the ball up the court, swinging it to Devin Milton in the left corner. The senior got his three-point attempt off before the buzzer but was fouled with 0:00 on the clock. The senior stepped to the line without anyone in the lane for three shots. Needing just one for the win, Milton sank his first to give Keuka College the 90-89 victory.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College has won three straight over Houghton. The Wolves hold the advantage in the all-time series 13-7
• The Wolves made 16 threes against the Highlanders, their second-highest output of the season
• Devin Milton now has 417 points this season, the eighth-most in a single season in program history
• Milton also pushed his career total to 1,193 points, moving into fourth on the list, passing newly inducted Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. Athletics Hall of Famer Todd Lincoln '07
• The game was in good hands when Devin Milton went to the line. The senior was 4-4 from the stripe on the night and has made his last 18 free throws. Milton is 31-33 (94%) since the calendar changed to 2023
• 14 points for Isaac McIlroy set a new season-high for the guard
• Mason VanDeMortel knocked down three threes in the win. Combining his time at Finger Lakes CC, VanDeMortal has surpassed 100 threes in his collegiate career

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves look to close out the 2022-23 season with one final win. Keuka College will host Medaille University at 4 p.m. at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Saturday afternoon. It will also be senior day for the Wolves as Keuka College will honor the graduating members of this year's team before the game.