WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. 1/2/2004 - Returning to the court following a 19 day holiday break, the Keene State College men's basketball team dropped a 86-72 game to New Jersey City University in a first round game of the Williams College Purple & Gold Tournament, Friday night at Chandler Gymnasium at Williamstown, Mass.
The Owls showed no problems from the lay-off in the first half. Twice they built up leads of 12 points, the last 29-17 coming on a basket by Matt Wheeler (Srub Oak, N.Y.) at the 4:34 mark.
Holding a 36-31 advantage at the break, KSC slowly saw its lead vanquish. The Gothic Knights tied the scored and eventually pulled ahead by as many as 16 points (67-51) with 6:13 to play. Keene State rallied to get within six points 75-69 on a lay-up by Harley Davis (Newburyport, Mass.) with 1:25 to play, but the Owls got no closer.
"They made some big shots and we just ran out of steam," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert after the game. "We struggled with our energy level. Once they got rolling, we couldn't stop them."
Chris Timson (Beverly, Mass.) topped the Owls with 17 points. Wheeler scored 12 points and Bennett Pawlusiak, (Manchester, N.H.) and Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) each finished with 11 points each. Pawluisiak also chipped in with six rebounds and Michalski added seven assists.
Samar Battle led NJCU (9-2) with a game-high 27 points.
Hoping to face host and defending Division III national champion Williams in the tournament finals, KSC (6-2) will go up against RPI in the consolation contest.
