KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College men's basketball team earned two conference wins in as many days with a 77-71 victory over Hartwick College on Saturday and move to three straight wins.
 
Senior guard Lamar Lovelace (Rochester, N.Y./Northeast College Prep) continued his strong play for the Wolves, recording a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds while adding two steals. Akinlana Popoola (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) finished with 20 points, shooting 4-of-6 from three-point range.
 
Keuka College 77 vs. Hartwick College 71
Early in the first half, both teams shot well as they traded baskets, with Hartwick (6-6, 0-3 E8) holding a 15-14 lead over Keuka College (5-7, 2-1 E8) with 13 minutes remaining. An Akinlana Popoola three-pointer sparked a 14-3 run for the Wolves, giving Keuka a 10-point lead with eight minutes left in the half. Popoola scored five of the 14 points during the run. The Wolves maintained the double-digit advantage until Hartwick connected on a three-pointer with two minutes remaining, igniting a brief surge that trimmed the deficit to six at halftime.
Makya Morrison (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta) set the tone just 15 seconds into the second half with a block on a Hartwick three-point attempt, followed by an emphatic transition dunk. The sequence sparked an 11-2 run as the Wolves extended their lead to 51-36. Hartwick responded with an 8-1 run, fueled by a pair of three-pointers, to pull within single digits. Keuka maintained control behind Lamar Lovelace, holding a 60-49 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
Hartwick again threatened to shift momentum with back-to-back three-pointers with eight minutes left, cutting the lead to five, but Lovelace answered with an open layup in transition to stop the run. The Hawks made one final push late, scoring 11 of the next 14 points on three straight corner threes to close within three with 31 seconds remaining. Keuka sealed the victory at the free-throw line, highlighted by a timely steal from Popoola in the closing moments.
 
Both teams started off the first half on the attack trading buckets and  finding themselves tied at 112 in the opening five minutes. Lamar Lovelace led the charge with contributing nine points in that stretch.
 
KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 5-12 all-time against Hartwick and extended the win streak to four in a row against the Hawks
• The double-double for Lovelace marked his first of the season
• Popoola had his second 20 point game of his career with both times against Hartwick
• The Wolves dominated on the fastbreak points with 29 compared to Hartwick's 12

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves return home on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to take on the Brockport Golden Eagles at 5:00 p.m.