Men's Basketball | 2/28/2026 4:43:00 PM
BROCKPORT, NY — For the first time in Keuka College history, the Men's Basketball team won the Empire 8 Conference Championship, defeating SUNY Brockport 83-80 in the championship game on Saturday afternoon. Tournament MVP Lamar Lovelace led Keuka College (15-13, 9-7 Empire 8) with 24 points. He was one of four Wolves in double figures. Akinlana Popoola added 17 for the Wolves. Kaleb Nutifafa and Makya Morrison each added 10 in the win. Brockport had its season come to an end with a 16-12 record.
#7 Keuka College 83 at #5 SUNY Brockport 80 – Empire 8 Championship
The Wolves jumped out to a 9-4 lead over Brockport in the opening minutes as Akinlana Popoola hit a triple for the Wolves. The Golden Eagles fought back but a step back three by Lovelace pushed the lead back to five. The three-point shooting of the hosts kept them in the game as Brockport started the game 5-9 from three. The Wolves put together a run and grew the lead as the half went on. Noreon Williams had a put-back layup to make it 32-23 Keuka as Brockport took a timeout. Out of the break, the Wolves continued as Williams hit a corner three and then Lamar Lovelace got a rebound and found a leaking Malik Junious-Fuller for a fast-break layup as the Wolves took a 37-23 lead. Brockport closed the first half strong. They scored 10 of the last 12, including the final seven points to cut into the lead, but Keuka College remained ahead 42-38 at the half.
SUNY Brockport stayed hot to start the second half as they would take a 47-45 lead over the Wolves. Keuka College steadied the run to regain the lead. Ty LaBarge got an offensive rebound and was fouled. He made both shots as Keuka took a 55-49 lead over the Golden Eagles. The Wolves continued to build their lead. Lamar Lovelace had a steal and big dunk for the Green and Gold. Quinn VanKerkhove then beat the shot clock and hit a three to make it 64-52 midway through the frame. After Brockport cut into the margin, Akinlana Popoola hit a deep three for the Wolves to push the advantage back to nine. However, the hosts would continue to cut into the Keuka lead as it would be a one-possession game with five minutes remaining. The Golden Eagles went up by one, but Lamar Lovelace drove to the basket to give the Wolves the lead back. Popoola hit a corner three for the Wolves. Brockport stepped into a three with 1:15 remaining to make it 81-79. It would be a one-point game in the final seconds. The Wolves had the ball and Malik Junious-Fuller was fouled with nine seconds left. The first-year went 2-2 from the line to make the lead three. Brockport had a late three to tie miss and the ball rolled to the floor as the buzzer sounds and the Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 83-80.
Game Notes:
- The win marks the first Empire 8 Conference Championship in any sport in school history
- The Wolves will gain the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. It will be Keuka College's first-ever trip to the big dance in program history
- Keuka improves to 3-0 all-time in conference championship games. Their previous two victories came in the early 2000s as a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference without the qualifier
- Ajani Flemming led four Brockport players in double figures with 19 points, while 2025-26 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Pharell Aybar added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Up Next for Keuka College: With the NCAA Tournament ahead, Keuka College will find out who, when, and where they will play at 1 p.m. on Monday when the NCAA releases the bracket as a part of their selection show on NCAA.com.