Keene State College

The 2003-04 men's basketball team reached heights never before seen by the Owls, who had fallen short of reaching the NCAA tournament in three of the previous four years.  In 2004, however, KSC broke through, winning the programs' first Little East Conference tournament championship and receiving an NCAA tournament berth for the first time in school history.    Led by All-LEC standouts Alphonse Michalski, Chris Timson, and Matt Wheeler, as well as LEC Coach of the Year Rob Colbert, the '03-04 men's basketball team captured the hearts of basketball fans all over Cheshire County.

Not content with reaching the tournament, Keene State continued to make history, hosting Babson College in a second round game, where the Owls blew out the Beavers 79-55.   Moving on to the Sweet 16, KSC was paired with nationally ranked No. 3 Rochester, who were undefeated heading into the meeting with the Owls.   KSC made short work of the Yellowjackets, reaching the national quarterfinals with an 82-79 victory.   Keene State bowed out of the tournament with a loss to eventual national champion Williams College, but history had been made; a school record for wins (25), a first ever conference tournament championship, and a place in the Elite Eight.