'KEENE, N.H.  1/25/03  –  Derek Swenson (Attleboro, MA.) lead a balanced Owl offense with 14 points to lead the Keene State College men's basketball team to a 87-65 victory over UMA-Boston in a Little East Conference game played Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

With the victory, KSC improves to 12-4 overall and 5-2 in the LEC while UMA-Boston goes to 9-8 and 3-4 in the conference.

Leading 35-29 at half time, Keene State pulled away from the Beacons in the second half.  The Owls scored the first five points of the half and went ahead by 12 (49-37) on a lay-up by Bennett Pawlusiak (Manchester, N.H.) with 13:30 to go.  Sean Sullivan (Athol, MA.), who made his first start for KSC and finished with 12 points, hit a jumper to make it 66-44 with 8:23 to go in the game.

Pawlusiak who had 11 points also finished in double figures for the Owls. Swenson and Kyle Purinton (Northwood, N.H.) tied for top rebounding honors with six each.

Lester Robinson (Roxbury, MA.) led the Beacons with nine points.  Paul Kemp (Cambridge, MA.) had eight points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Keene State will host rival Plymouth State on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m.).

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