KEENE, N.H. 1/27/2004 - Chris Timson (Beverly, Mass.) hit a buzzer-beater follow-up lay-up to lift the 24th ranked Keene State College men's basketball team to an amazing come-from-behind 59-57 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference game played Tuesday night at Spaulding Gym.
The Owls outscored the Warriors 10-0 over the final 1:23 of the game to pull off the improbable victory. Trailing by eight points (57-49) following a basket by Michael Kipphut (Meriden, Conn.), KSC refused to give up. A pair of baskets and a free throw by Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.), and a three-pointer by Timson tied the game at 57-all with 32 seconds remaining.
The Warriors had a chance to take the lead, but Matt Wheeler (Shrub Oak, N.Y) blocked a shot by Kipphut and managed to grab the rebound. With eight seconds remaining, KSC raced back down the court with Alphonse Michalski (Northampton, Mass.) feeding Brian Sheppard (East Bridgewater, Mass.) for a lay-up opportunity. Sheppard missed, but Timson grabbed the rebound and put the ball in off the glass just before time expired.
"None of us gave up," said Timson after the game. "I went up and got the ball and shot, but I thought time expired. I was relieved to find out it didn't.
The coaches always say crash the boards, and that's what I did. "
With the victory, Keene State (15-2, 8-0 LEC) extends its winning streak to nine games and remains undefeated in the Little East Conference. Eastern Conn. (9-8, 5-3) saw its five game winning streak come to an end.
Sullivan had a game-high 21 points to lead the Owls. Timson finished with 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Three Warriors scored in double figures - Martin Kokoszka (Meriden, Conn.) had 16 points, Kipphut added 13 points, and Jeroy Smith (New Haven, Conn.) finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Keene State has won the last six meetings between the two teams.
KSC hosts Lasell College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Conn. The Warriors return home on Saturday to face R.I. College (3 p.m.).
