'KEENE, N.H.  2/15/03  –  The Keene State College men's basketball team let a chance to tie for the top spot in the Little East Conference slip away with a tough 83-80 loss to Western Connecticut State University in Keene, N.H. on Saturday.

KSC (17-6, 8-4), which had its five game winning streak snapped, falls to third place in the LEC.  WCSU (15-7, 10-2 LEC) extended its winning streak to four and maintained its hold on first place in the conference.

Chris Timson (Beverly, MA.) topped the Owls with 18 points and Alphonse Michalski (Northampton, MA.) finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Leading by 10 with 7:41 to play, KSC could not hold the lead.  Casey Bock (Danbury, CT) gave WCSU its first lead in the second half (78-77) with a three-pointer at the 1:51 mark.

With the Colonials up to five (82-77) with 16 second left to play, KSC cut the lead to two (82-80) on a basket and free throw by Derek Swenson (Attleboro, MA.) with seven seconds to go. But Jay Riginatto (Torrington, CT) hit a free throw and Timson's three-point attempt came after the buzzer to account for the final score.

Riginatto had 20 points and Kimani Crawford (W. Hartford, CT) added 18 points and a game high 15 rebounds to lead WCSU. 

KSC didn't help themselves at the line hitting just 17 of 30 attempts (.57 %).

The Colonials, who defeated the Owls in last year's LEC Championship, swept the season series against KSC. WCSU prevailed 85-80 earlier in Danbury.

KSC will be at rival Plymouth State on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).

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