PHOENIX, AZ 12/31/04 - The Keene State College men's basketball team lost to Rockford (Ill.) College 86-74 in the finale of its appearance at the Grand Canyon Classic in Phoenix on Friday.

The Owls, who won their first game of the trip against Anderson (Ind.) University (66-60) finish 1-1 at the Classic and return home with a 6-4 mark.

Freshman Erik Schlacter (Marlborough, Mass.) led KSC with a season high 18 points. Sean Sullivan (Atol, Mass.) scored 17 points, Joe Shaw (Concord, N.H.) finished with 11 points and Ben Maynard (Nobleboro, Me.) added a team best nine rebounds.

Trailing 35-31 at halftime, the Owls came back to take a nine point lead (51-42) on a pair of free throws by Schlacter at the 13:54 mark of the second half.

KSC couldn't hold off the Regents, who bounced back to take the lead for good (58-57) on two free throws by E.J. Avery following a foul and technical called on Maynard.

The Owls made things interesting when they closed the gap to just two points (61-59)on a couple of free throws by Sullivan with 7:28 to play. But that's as close as they would get.

Mike Jamerson topped the Regents (7-3) with a game-high 20 points.

Following a trip to the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, the Owls return home to face Springfield College on Jan. 6 in a 7:30 p.m. game.