KEENE, N.H. 1/29/2004 - The Keene State College men's basketball team saw its nine game winning streak come to end with a 70-66 non-conference loss to Lasell College at Spaulding Gym on Thursday night.
Keene State, which came into the game ranked 24th in the national Division III poll, falls to 15-3 on the season. Lasell improves to 14-1.
Trailing by four (43-39) at halftime, Keene State fell behind by as many as 11 points during the second half, the latest time coming when a pair of free throws by Napoleon Sandeford (Sam Diego, Ca.) put the Lasers up 66-55 with 1:47 to play.
The Owls utilized their full-court press to try to get back into the game. KSC scored the next eight points, cutting the deficit to three-points on a lay-up by Matt Wheeler with 46 seconds to go.
A free throw by Stern Chamberlain and basket by Demetrius DeJesus pushed Lasell's lead back up to six (70-64), before Alphonse Michalski (Northampton, Mass.) made it 70-66 on a driving lay-up at the 23 second mark.
Although Lasell was unable to hit several free throws in the closing seconds, KSC couldn't take advantage with Chris Timson (Beverly, Mass.) and Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) missing shots.
 "Unfortunately there was no miracle finish this time, " said KSC Coach Rob Colbert, referring to the Owls' come-from-behind win against Eastern Conn. on Tuesday night. "Their speed and quickness hurt us in transition."
Michalski led the Owls with 18 points. Matt Wheeler (Shrub oak, N.Y.) had 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds, Timson scored 12, and Sullivan finished with 10 points.  KSC hurt itself at the foul line connecting on just 19 of 38 shots.
Chamberlain had a game-high 19 points to top the Lasers, which won its first game in four meetings against KSC. Evans Cazeau (Medford, Mass.) added 15 points, and Sandeford finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Keene State returns to LEC play when its travels to UMass-Boston on Saturday for a 3p.m. game.
