KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — Keuka College senior Lamar Lovelace broke the Men's Basketball single-game scoring record at Keuka College with 41 points as the Wolves defeated Russell Sage College 105-100 at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Friday night.

Lovelace made a pair of game-sealing free throws in the final seconds to tie and step one point ahead for the previous record, set by Kyle Bower when he scored 40 points against Elmira College on December 14, 1990.

Lovelace added nine rebounds, tying for the team lead for Keuka College (4-7, 1-1 Empire 8). He was one of four starters in double figures for the Green and Gold. Akinlana Popoola posted 16 for the Wolves. Kaleb Nutifafa had 15 points and nine rebounds. Malik Junious-Fuller scored 13 points and led Keuka with four steals.

Keuka College 105 vs. Russell Sage College 100
It was a back-and-forth start to the game with the teams tied at 12-12 early on. Lamar Lovelace broke the tie with a three, and Chase Welch followed with a triple of his own. Later in the run, Akinlana Popoola hit a three, and Marcus Reed capped the 13-point run with a layup as Sage took a timeout with Keuka leading 25-12. The Wolves maintained the double-digit lead for the rest of the first half. A layup by Malik Junious-Fuller sealed the frame as Keuka College scored 56 in the first to lead 56-42 at the half.

The Gators found a spark at the half, scoring the first seven points of the second half in just 63 seconds to cut the Keuka margin down to seven. The Wolves would settle the push and begin to trade baskets with the Gators to maintain the lead. Keuka slowly grew their advantage to 18 points in the frame, but Sage would continue to cut into the lead. The Wolves led by 12, 93-81 with four minutes left. Eight straight for the Gators melted the lead. The lead would drop to two points with 2:29 remaining. Popoola made a pair of free throws for the Wolves to make it a four-point lead and Lovelace followed with a layup. However, Sage hit a three and then got a steal and score to make the score 99-98 with 1:17 left on the clock. The Wolves worked their offense and Popoola hit a jumper. Following a missed there by Russell Sage, Kaleb Nutifafa grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made his two shots. Lovelace then hit his record-setting free throws as the Wolves defeated the Gators 105-100.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College improves to 6-3 all-time against Russell Sage and 5-1 when playing on David M. Sweet Court
• The win was the 400th victory in program history
• Lovelace scored his 41 points with 12 two-pointers, three three-pointers, and went a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line
• The 56 points scored in the first half by Keuka tied for the seventh-most in a half in program history
• Keuka College's 105 points were the fifth-most points scored in a home game for the Wolves ever
• First-year guard Malik Junious-Fuller set a new career high with 13 points

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will look to continue the momentum as they wrap up their Empire 8 weekend on Saturday. Keuka College will host Hartwick College at 4 p.m. The Wolves will also look to stay hot against the Hawks, as Keuka College has won the previous three meetings.