KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Men's Basketball team closed the home portion of their 2025-26 schedule in style with a 77-69 Empire 8 Conference victory over St. John Fisher at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Saturday.

Four Wolves were in double-figures on Saturday, including three who were honored on Senior Day. Lamar Lovelace led the way with a game-high 21 points. Fellow seniors Marcus Reed and Akinlana Popoola finished with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Kaleb Nutifafa also scored 15 points for Keuka in the win.

Keuka College 77 vs. St. John Fisher 69
Keuka weathered an early 4-0 deficit but quickly settled in behind Lamar Lovelace, who hit a couple of baskets to tie the game at 4-4. After St. John Fisher briefly regained the edge, Akinlana Popoola knocked down a three to give the Wolves a spark and a 7-5 lead. The back-and-forth battle continued until Marcus Reed buried a three at 10:43 to pull Keuka within two, and Quinn VanKerkhove followed with a transition triple at 9:44 to tie it 19-19. From there, the Wolves began to control the tempo inside as Kaleb Nutifafa scored to make it 24-21, igniting a decisive run. Brennan Hopkins converted an and-one at 3:34 to push the lead to 31-24, and Nutifafa added another finish at 3:06 to extend the cushion. Lovelace capped the half in highlight fashion, stealing the ball and converting a fast-break layup to send Keuka into the locker room ahead 40-32.

St. John Fisher opened the second half with a quick three-point play, but Marcus Reed answered immediately with a three to steady the Wolves. Lovelace attacked downhill for a fast-break layup at 17:04 to make it 47-39, and moments later Malik Junious-Fuller drilled a transition three at 16:21 off a Reed steal to stretch the advantage to double digits. The Wolves continued to capitalize on turnovers, with Lovelace knocking down a three to extend the lead to 53-41. Even as Fisher made pushes from the perimeter, Keuka responded by getting to the free-throw line and forcing miscues, finishing the night with 27 points off turnovers. Behind Lovelace's 21 points and six assists, Nutifafa's interior presence, and timely perimeter shooting from Reed and Junious-Fuller, the Wolves maintained control down the stretch to secure the 77-69 Empire 8 victory.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves levelled the season series with the Cardinals at 1-1. St. John Fisher remains ahead in the all-time series, however, 30-5
• Lovelace added eight rebounds and six assists to his scoring total on Saturday to lead the Wolves
• Kaleb Nutifafa was one behind him in each with seven rebounds and a career-high five assists
• Marcus Reed scored a season-high for the Green and Gold
• Ty LaBarge added four rebounds, and Kevin Felasco finished with a pair to round out the Senior Day honorees

Up Next for Keuka College: With a playoff spot cliched, the Wolves enter their final game of the season at Elmira College with an eye on seeding. Keuka College currently sits in seventh but can finish anywhere between sixth or eighth depending on their results and other games around the conference. Tipoff on Tuesday between the Wolves and Soaring Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m. in Elmira.