'KEENE, N.H. 1/9/03  –  Senior guard Derek Swenson (Attleboro, MA.) had a career-high 29 points including six three-pointers to lead the Keene State College men's basketball team to a come-from-behind 83-76 non-conference victory over Springfield College Thursday night at Spaulding Gym.

The Owls, who were playing their first home game since Nov. 23., improve to 9-1 while Springfield College falls to 6-4.

The game was decided in the final minutes of play. After Springfield guard Jonathan Trant's (Providence, R.I.) three-pointer tied the score at 74-all at the 3:15 mark, KSC scored the next seven points of the game to post the victory.  Swenson gave the Owls the lead for good with a three pointer from the top of the circle to make it 77-74.  Matt Wheeler (Shrub Oak, N.Y.)  hit a trey form the left corner and Chris Timson (Beverly, MA.) hit a couple of free throws in the uprising.

KSC, which trailed by as many as eight points (22-14) midway in the first half, came back to take a 39-32 halftime lead.

Although the Owls build up a 10 point lead (74-64) with 6:15 to play in the second half, they could not shake a pesky Pride team until the final minutes of play.

Timson finished with 12 points and nine rebounds and Wheeler added 11 points and eight rebounds to lead the Owls.

Glenn Pape (Stanford, CT) had 18 points and Trant finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds to top Springfield.

The Pride defeated Keene State 92-88 in overtime last season at Springfield. It was the Owls' only loss in their first 18 games.

KSC returns to Little East play on Saturday when it hosts R.I. College.

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