ALFRED, N.Y. — Alfred University made two free throws with one second remaining in the game to defeat the Keuka College Men's Basketball team 54-53 on Friday night.
Christian Sage (Owego, N.Y. / Owego Free Academy) led Keuka College (5-8, 3-3 Empire 8) with 12 points. Devin Milton (Opelousas, La. / Beau Chene) and Amar Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Frederick Douglas Academy) each added nine for the Wolves.
Alfred University 54 vs. Keuka College 53
The first half was an offensive struggle as both teams combined to shoot 26% from the floor. The difference in the half was from the three-point line. Alfred went 5-17 from deep while the Wolves were 0-4. Alfred held a double-digit lead in the opening frame, but the Wolves cut it to six, 22-16, at the half.
Keuka came out with some tight defense, forcing some early Alfred turnovers. At the other end, a couple of baskets for the Green and Gold made it a two-point game. Alfred was able to recover and built a 36-25 lead over the Wolves on the back of their three-point shooting. Christian Sage hit Keuka's first three of the night midway through the second to make it a 36-28 game. That lifted the lid for Keuka as some long balls started to fall. Jaden Keasey (Newport News, Va. / Menchville) had a put-back layup for Keuka to cut the lead to four. Later, a turnaround jumper by Devin Milton gave the Wolves a 43-42 lead with 5:30 left to play. Alfred tied the game but Devin Milton hit a straightaway three to put the Wolves up three, 48-45, as Alfred called a timeout with 2:50 remaining. It would go down to the final minute. Amar Jackson went 2-2 from the line with 57 seconds left to give the Wolves a two-point lead, but Alfred responded with their 13th three of the night at the other end to go ahead by one. Both teams would have empty possessions, leaving Keuka with the ball with 16.4 seconds left to play. The Wolves took a 53-52 lead with 6.4 seconds left as Devin Milton drove the lane and hit a jumper for Keuka. Alfred inbounded the ball and raced down. They attacked the basket and was fouled with one second remaining. The Saxons made both of their free throws. Keuka was unable to connect on the final desperation play as they would lose to Alfred 54-53.
KC Notes:
- Keuka College falls to 8-19 all-time against Alfred. The Wolves are 3-10 when playing on the Saxons' home floor
- The 54 points was the fewest Keuka has ever allowed to Alfred in the 27-game series
- Mac Creek (Tampa, Fla. / Cambridge Christian) set a new career-high and led the Wolves with six rebounds
- 39 of Alfred's 54 points came from behind the three-point line. They finished 13-37 from deep. It was the most taken and made against Keuka College this season
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as Keuka College plays at Elmira College at 4 p.m.