Utica, N.Y. — The SUNY Poly men's basketball team delivered a complete performance on Saturday afternoon, building a commanding first-half lead and cruising to a 77–65 victory over the Keuka College Wolves. The Wildcats pick up their fourth win in a row and move to 14-3 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SUNY Poly wasted little time establishing control, leaning on defensive pressure and efficient scoring inside. Marqiis Samuels opened the scoring with a layup, and the Wildcats quickly found their rhythm as Brian Bonin and William Scanlon knocked down early three-pointers to spark an 8–0 run. The defense set the tone early as well, forcing turnovers and limiting Keuka's opportunities in the paint.
As the half progressed, SUNY Poly continued to separate with balanced scoring and strong ball movement. Samuels consistently attacked the rim, Bonin added a midrange jumper and a layup through contact, and Anthony Rose made his presence felt with transition finishes and perimeter shooting. The Wildcats also controlled the glass, with Scanlon, Kamryn Comstock, and Alec Bartone cleaning up defensively and igniting fastbreak chances.
The Wildcats' depth paid dividends late in the half. Maddox Hughey converted at the free-throw line and added a putback, and Oumaru Hydara drilled a three-pointer in the final minutes. SUNY Poly capped the opening 20 minutes with strong interior play and timely assists, heading into the locker room with a commanding 44–22 advantage.
Keuka came out with renewed energy in the second half, scoring early in the paint, but SUNY Poly responded quickly. Bonin finished a layup and converted at the free-throw line, Rose knocked down back-to-back free throws, and Samuels added points from the stripe to maintain control. Scanlon buried multiple three-pointers in the half, including a pair that pushed the lead back to comfortable margins whenever Keuka threatened.
Defensively, the Wildcats remained locked in. Bartone and Rose recorded key blocks, Samuels generated steals that led to fastbreak points, and SUNY Poly continued to force tough shots.
Down the stretch, SUNY Poly closed the game with poise. Rose finished another fastbreak layup, Brady Eitleman converted in transition, and the Wildcats controlled the final minutes to secure the 77–65 home victory.
"Really proud of the focus and competitive spirit our guys had in the first twenty minutes today," said head coach Rob Schoener. "It was good to see so many guys get some run and have a chance to make some plays. It was a good home weekend."
