'KEENE, N.H. 01/14/06 - Sophomore guard David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) had 23 points including several key baskets down the stretch to lead Keene State College to a thrilling 103-96 Little East Conference men's basketball victory over the University of Southern Maine at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

Sophomore guard Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) added 19 points, including four three-pointers, and freshman forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Owls.

Keene State (11-3, 5-0 LEC) remains undefeated conference play and on top of the LEC standings while Southern Maine (9-6, 3-2), off to its best start since the 1992-93 season, saw its four game winning streak come to an end.

The Owls, who led by as many as 10 points in the second half, had to hold off a late charge by the Huskies to secure the win.  USM took its first lead of the half on a lay-up by Walter Phillips (Portland, Me.) that made it 86-85 at the 4:24 mark. Southern Maine extended it lead to six (91-85) on a dunk by Phillips with 3:45 to go. KSC took back the lead for good (97-95) on a pair of free throws by Hickey with 1:41 to play.

With the Owls clinging to a three-point lead (99-96), USM sophomore guard Andy Frost (Brewer, Me.) missed a potential tying three-pointer with 24 seconds to play.  Senior forward Jesse McKinnell (Manomet, Mass.) committed a foul on the rebound, sending KSC's Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) to the line.   The freshman forward hit both attempts to put the Owls up 101-96 and the Owls were able to hold on for the win.

"This might be the best Southern Maine team I've seen in 10 years," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "I thought they competed well. They made big shots and didn't quit when they got down.  We didn't play particularly great, but it's nice to come out with a victory.

"Enough players made enough plays to keep us ahead," Colbert added.  "The feeling of the game changed when they went up, and our guys were able to respond at that point." 

Keene State led by as many as nine points (44-35) in a first half that was delayed for 20 minutes when a rim on one of the baskets was bent.  A three-pointer by sophomore forward Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H.) in the final seconds gave KSC a 47-42 halftime lead.  Hickey and Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) had nine first-half points for the Owls.  Phillips finished with 17 first half points for USM. 

Sullivan had 15 points and junior guard Stanley Chamblain (Chelsea, Mass.) finished with 10 points rounding out the double-figure scorers for KSC.

Phillips and sophomore forward Jason Hardwick (Boothbay, Me.) had 22 points each and sophomore guard Josh Daniels (Everett, WA.) added 18 points to lead USM.

Both teams shot well behind the arc.  The Owls were 12-for 24 and USM 11-for-27.

KSC, which has posted a 15-2 record against Southern Maine in LEC play, has won the last 11 meetings between the two teams.