KEENE, N.H. 2/10/2004 - Nick Pelotte (Bingham, Me.) scored 23 of his game high 25 points in the second half to lead the Plymouth State University men's basketball team to a 98-67 Little East Conference victory over host Keene State College at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday night.

Looking to clinch first place in the LEC with a win, KSC (17-5, 10-1 LEC) suffered its first Conference loss of the season.  Plymouth State (18-4, 8-3 LEC), which extended its winning streak to three games, posted in first victory against the Owls in three meetings this season.  KSC prevailed 86-70 at the N.H. Hoop Classic on Dec. 14, and 83-61 in Plymouth on Jan. 20.

It was the largest victory margin between the two teams since the 1956-57 season when Plymouth State defeated Keene 105-65.

The LEC player of the week, Matt Wheeler (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) led three Owl players in double figures with 14 points.  Alphonse Michalski (Northampton, Mass.) scored 11 points and Chris Timson (Beverly, Mass.) finished with 10 points.

PSU pulled away from KSC late in the first half.  A jumper by Mike Loughlin (Manchester, N.H.) capped a 9-4 Panther run over the final three minutes that gave the visitors a 44-35-halftime lead.

Keeene State didn't score its first basket until Wheeler hit a lay-up at the 15:49 mark of the second half.  Ignited by Pelotte, the Panthers ran away from the Owls.  A three-pointer by Pelotte extended PSU's lead to 21 points (58-37) with just under 15 minutes to play.   KSC, which committed 29 turnovers and shot just 36% percent from the field, was never able to get back into the game.

Andreas Pope (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 20 points and Anthony Oglesby finished with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Panthers.

Keene State, which has lost three out of its last five games, travels to Western Conn. on Saturday for a 3 p.m. LEC contest against the Colonials.