KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – An hour after a similar comeback attempt was thwarted in the women's game, the Keuka Men's Basketball Team (5-3, 2-0 NEAC) was able to pull off the feat, overcoming a 14-point deficit at the half to defeat the Wildcats (2-4, 1-1 NEAC) on Sunday evening, 68-64 in OT. 

SUNY Poly held a 33-19 lead at halftime thanks to a smothering defensive effort. The Wildcats held Keuka to 8-of-22 shooting. The big stat, though, was the 12 turnovers the Wildcats forced. Rookie Ryan McCarthy (Camden, N.Y. / Camden) alone had 3 steals in the half, and the team had 8.

Everything changed in the second half – it started and one might even say ended with Wolfpack big man Tyler Hixson. Hixson has been a thorn in the side of the Wildcats for years – the forward's size and craftiness in the paint give a lot of team's problems. After scoring just 4 points in the first half, Hixson erupted for 21 in the second half on 9-of-11 shooting. It wasn't like they were all layups either – even with a hand in his face Hixson couldn't miss, even throwing in a left-handed prayer after stumbling in the lane during the second half. 

As things seemed about to slip away, though, point guard Maverick Hodge (Bronx, N.Y. / Samuel Gompers) did his best to keep the Wildcats in the game. Hodge ended up going for 27 points on the night, equaling Hixson for the game-high. The rangy 6-foot senior hit on a number of acrobatic drives late in the second half and overtime. As great point guards often do, Hodge has shown an affinity for salvaging broken plays.

It could have been an even bigger day for Hodge, though, if not for the play of Wolfpack guard Casey Williams. The athletic guard hounded Hodge for most of the second half, as Keuka seemd determine to make things as difficult as possible on the SUNY Poly point guard. Williams ended up struggling on offense (2-10 FG) but did an admirable job against Hodge while finishing with a game-high 10 rebounds.

For the Wildcats McCarthy finished with 16 points to back up Hodge, knocking down 9 of 12 from the free throw line. Overall the Wildcats struggled from the field (37%) and especially the three-point line, going just 3 of 19 a day after hitting 10 of 15 in the win over Wells.

Still, the Wildcats continue to show that their defense can keep them in games even on a tough shooting night – were it not for a couple bad bounces SUNY Poly could easily be heading into the break with a 2-0 NEAC record.

As it is the 'Cats will look ahead to Saturday when they return home. They will host Cortland State in a 2 pm match up, the team's last home game before the holiday break.