KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team opened 2024 with a convincing 91-63 Empire 8 win over Hartwick College at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Friday night.  

Keuka College (4-5, 2-0 Empire 8) was led by Christian Sage with 19 points and four assists. Devin Milton scored 15 and Alijah Ellis and Jaden Keasey each added 12 in the win.

Keuka College 91 vs. Hartwick College 63
Both teams had a slow start to the game on Friday night as it was tied at 6-6 five minutes into the action. Down by one, Keuka got hot as they rattled off nine straight points in just over a minute to take a 17-9 lead. The Green and Gold pushed their lead to double digits on a Tyler Green three midway through the half. The Wolves continued to widen the lead. A put-back layup by Jaden Keasey extended the lead to 21, 39-18, with five minutes left in the half. Keuka posted a 10-0 run late in the first. It was an awkward end to the first as the half was called with 44 seconds remaining due to a scoreboard malfunction. The teams were sent to their locker rooms with Keuka leading 53-27.

Hartwick scored three points in the resumption of the first half. Then, early in the second half, the Hawks hit three threes in a row to cut the Keuka lead to 56-40. The answer came from Keuka's Devin Milton as he knocked down a three and then had a fastbreak layup following a block by Alijah Ellis. The Wolves played with a sizeable lead for the rest of the game. Keuka's largest lead was 33 points as the Wolves won the conference matchup 91-63.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves earned their first win over Hartwick College since the 1996-97 season. Keuka is now 2-12 in the all-time series. It was Keuka's first home win against Hartwick
• It was the fourth time Keuka has scored 90 or more points this season. Friday was the most points ever for Keuka against Hartwick
• In the game, Christian Sage reached the 1,000-point milestone for his collegiate career. He began his journey playing a year at SUNY Broome. He then played one season at Cazenovia College before coming to Keuka College
• Playing in his first game since Thanksgiving, Devin Milton slotted right back into the Keuka lineup with a strong game. With his 15 points, he becomes just the third player in program history to score 1,300 points in a career. He moved to third on the career field goals list with 503 and fifth on the career threes list with 140, passing Keuka College Hall of Famer Matt Donahoe for both
• The Wolves were +12 in rebounding. Mason VanDeMortel led with a game-high nine boards. He was backed up by Alijah Ellis and Will Tehan with seven apiece.

Up Next for Keuka College: The Men's Basketball team will look to keep the momentum going and move to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2014-15 season on Saturday. Keuka College will host Russell Sage College at 4 p.m. at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center. The Wolves have played the Gators well, going 4-1 against them since joining the Empire 8.