KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team lost an Empire 8 Conference game to Utica University 89-83 at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Saturday afternoon.

Christian Sage (Owego, N.Y. / Owego Free Academy) led Keuka College (9-11, 7-6 Empire 8) with a season-high 29 points. Devin Milton (Opelousas, La. / Beau Chene) was also over twenty points, scoring 21 against Utica, and led the Green and Gold with nine rebounds. Mason VanDeMortel (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) was a perfect 4-4 from three in the second half on his way to 17 points.

Utica University 89 at Keuka College 83

After trading baskets early, a 12-0 run by Utica created some separation in the game, leading 16-6. The Pioneers later extended the advantage to 12 points, but the Wolves got back in it quickly as Devin Milton hit a three and Jaden Keasey (Newport News, Va. / Menchville) followed with a layup in transition to cut the advantage to seven. Utica later pushed their lead to 14, the largest of the game, with seven minutes left in the half. Keuka responded with seven straight to cut the lead in half. Keuka would get it down to six, but Utica scored the last four of the frame to lead 43-33 at the half.

Keuka College found the range from deep as they fought to get back into the game in the second half. Christian Sage hit a three. Then, on the defensive end, Devin Milton had a block and Sage found Mason VanDeMortel for a three to make it 46-41. Keuka got the game down to four points, 52-48, as Alijah Ellis (Portsmouth, Va. / Indian River / Fork Union Military Academy) had a block and Devin Milton had a layup on the fast break to force Utica into a timeout. A three by Mason VanDeMortel brought it back to a two-point game, 58-56, with 12 minutes left to play. Later, Christian Sage hit a three to make it a one-point game. The Pioneers stretched their lead back out to eight, but the Wolves kept it close. The Green and Gold got it back to a two-point game in the final two minutes and had a three-point attempt to take the lead with 1:35 remaining, but it was off. Utica made their free throws late and held on to defeat the Wolves 89-83.

KC Notes:

• Despite the loss, with other results around the Empire 8, Keuka College clinched a berth into the conference tournament. It will be Keuka College's second appearance in the E8 Men's Basketball Tournament in their four years in the league
• The Wolves drop to 7-21 all-time against Utica University, dropping eight straight to the Pioneers
• Mason VanDeMortel's big second half gave him 50 threes on the season and 140 in his career at Keuka College. The senior ties his previous personal best of 50 threes in a season, good for tenth on the single-season list. VanDeMortel also passes Matt Donahoe '89 for sixth on the career threes list
• Mac Creek (Tampa, Fla. / Cambridge Christian) had seven assists for the Wolves and Christian Sage was right behind him with six
• As the Wolves fought to get back in the game, Keuka shot 7-11, 64%, from three in the second half. However, Utica was 15-16, 94%, from the free throw line to hold onto the lead

Up Next for Keuka College: Now that these two teams are very familiar with each other, they will play again in two days. Utica University will host Keuka College on Monday, February 12. That starts the final week of the regular season for Keuka College as the Wolves look to lock up a home game in the first round of the conference tournament. The Green and Gold will close the season with two home games against Elmira College and Alfred University starting on Friday.