'CONCORD, N.H. 11/29/05 - David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) hit a three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to lift the Keene State College men's basketball team to a thrilling 81-80 non-conference victory over Colby-Sawyer College at the sixth annual Jacob's Bridge through Autism New England Division III Challenge hosted by New Hampshire Technical Institute on Tuesday night. 

Leading 80-78, Colby-Sawyer (2-1) took a time out.  After the break, a broken down Keene State play caused Sontag to take a three-pointer just to the left of the top of the key that went in for the game-winner. 

"Coming out of the time out, I tried to get to the hoop and create something," said Sontag.  "I tried to get the ball to Matt (Hickey), but he was double-teamed, so I took the shot." 

"They did a good job on me all night and I was fortunate it went in," he added. 

"I thought they'd be keying on David (Sontag) pretty good," said KSC coach Rob Colbert.  "I told him, 'if it ever breaks down, go ahead and take the shot.' I never thought he would take me that literally," said Colbert.

In a game that saw 10 ties and 21 lead changes, the Owls (4-0) pulled off the victory in the final minutes of the game.  Trailing by four points (76-72) on a lay-up by Andrew St. Clair (Pittsfield, Maine) with 2:45 remaining, KSC kept its composure as Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) netted four consecutive free throws to tie it 76-all with just over two minutes left. 

Josh Carter's (Salem, N.H.) three-pointer gave Colby-Sawyer a 79-76 lead with  :59 seconds left to play.  The Owls had several chances to tie the game with three-point opportunities by Sontag and Carl Slate (North Attleboro, Mass.) respectively, but both shots were missed.  Sophomore forward Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H.) grabbed Slate's attempt and drew the foul.  With 28 seconds remaining, Drouin connected on both free throw shots to pull the Owls within one (79-78). 

After a quick KSC foul, junior forward Matt Spanos (Newport, N.H.) missed his first free throw shot with 17 seconds left to play, and Drouin pulled down the rebound.  Moments later, St. Clair stole the ball from KSC's Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.), and was fouled.  St. Clair missed the first free throw attempt and connected on the second to give the Chargers an 80-78 lead with 10 seconds remaining. After a Colby-Sawyer time out, Sontag was able to break free and sink a three-pointer with three seconds left to play for the game-winner.  

Sullivan had a team-high 27 points, 15 in the first half, to lead the Owls.  Drouin, who came into the game after Ben Maynard (Nobleboro, Maine) got into early foul trouble, scored 14 points, and Anthony Licitra (Glastonbury, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points.  Drouin finished with a game-high nine rebounds.  

Four Chargers scored in double figures - Carter had 19 points, St. Clair and Collin Bray (Brookline, Mass.) added 12 points apiece, and Spanos finished with 10 points.  St. Clair grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. 

 "It's early in the season, but this is a game for us to build upon," said Sontag, who finished with nine points.  "A lot of people are saying that Colby-Sawyer is the top Division III team in New Hampshire.  So, we came out with a purpose - to show we can play with the best of them." 

Keene State returns to Spaulding Gym on Saturday (3 p.m.) for its LEC opener against Rhode Island College.