ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team led by three at halftime, but would fall to Nazareth University 84-73 on Tuesday night in an Empire 8 game.

Keuka College (9-10, 7-5 Empire 8) was led by Alijah Ellis (Portsmouth, Va. / Indian River / Fork Union Military Academy) with 16 points. Will Tehan (Victor, N.Y. / Victor) was right behind him with 13 in the loss.

Nazareth University 84 vs. Keuka College 73

Both teams eased into the game on the offensive end, but they matched each other basket for basket. Alijah Ellis made a pair of early baskets to give the Wolves the lead, but the Golden Flyers answered. An 8-0 run for Nazareth built a 15-9 lead, but Mason VanDeMortel (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) answered right back with a three. Nazareth remained ahead until Devin Milton (Opelousas, La. / Beau Chene) hit a three midway through the first to make it 20-20. An 8-0 burst for the Wolves gave Keuka a 30-25 edge. Nazareth would tie it back up again as the game remained close throughout the first half. Daniel Obunse (Queens, N.Y. / Flushing) hit a corner three with 26 seconds left to put Keuka up five, but Nazareth got a basket in the final seconds to cut into the lead. Keuka remained ahead 43-40 at halftime.

Nazareth used that late basket to springboard an 8-0 start to the second half to claim the lead. Devin Milton hit a three for the Wolves to get on the board in the second, but Nazareth answered back with eight more points to take a nine-point lead, 55-46. The Wolves would stay in the game and trim the lead down to one possession. A three by Will Tehan made it a 59-57 in favor of Nazareth with 13 minutes remaining. The Wolves had a three to take the lead, but it was off. Keuka went 2-11 from deep in the second half after shooting 8-15 in the first half. The Green and Gold would not be able to cut into the lead any further. Nazareth widened their advantage late as they defeated the Wolves 84-73.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 6-26 all-time against the Golden Flyers
• The Wolves hit ten threes giving them 177 on the season, fourth-most in program history
• Three of those threes were by Devin Milton. The graduate student now has 167 in his career, passing Corey Edwards '07 for the Keuka College career record
• Alijah Ellis set a new personal best for rebounds in a season on Tuesday
• Will Tehan was perfect from the floor. The junior made all five of his shots, including three three-pointers, and added a free throw for his 14 points
• Mason VanDeMortal finished with 13 points for the Wolves. He also led the team with three blocks. VanDeMortal moved into a tie for fifth on the career blocks list with 74 during his time at Keuka College

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves are down the home stretch of their schedule. Next up for Keuka is a pair of games against Utica University. The Wolves will host the Pioneers on Saturday at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center. Keuka will then travel to Utica to complete the season series on Monday evening.