'KEENE, N.H. 1/24/06 - The Keene State College men's basketball team outscored rival Plymouth State University 51-36 in the second half to post a come -from-behind 80-70 Little East Conference victory at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday.

"We started loosening up in the second half," said KSC coach Rob Colbert.  "We began to get second shots and easier shots, and really limiting them (Plymouth State) to only one and two."

With the win, KSC (12-5, 6-2 LEC) snapped its two game conference losing streak and maintains a share of the lead with UMass-Boston in the Little East Conference.  UMB (11-6, 6-2 LEC) defeated the University of Southern Maine (94-87 OT) in its LEC match-up tonight. Plymouth State (12-5, 5-3 LEC) saw its three game winning streak come to an end. 

"We did a nice job," said Colbert.  "Tonight was one of our better defensive games and definitely one of our better rebounding games." 

"We were 0-2 in the last two games, so to come out and get a win is big," Colbert added.  "Losing two in a row was a bit scary because confidence is so fleeting."

"I'm proud of the team for battling back, especially after a halftime deficit," he said. 

The Owls had four players in double-figures - Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) led the team with 18 points.  Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) and Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) added 15 points each, and David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) finished with 11 points.  Ben Maynard (Nobleboro, Me.) and Sontag led the Owls with 10 rebounds each.

Trailing by five at halftime, KSC began the second half on a 15-5 run highlighted by consecutive three-pointers by Sontag and Hickey that put KSC ahead 62-50 with 8:25 to play. PSU closed to within four on a jumper by Phil Bourassa (Old Orchard Beach, Me.) that made it 62-58 at 5:07 to go.  KSC closed out the game going eight for 11 at the line to secure the win.

Mike Walcek (Dover, N.H.) had 14 points and Brandon Boggs (Strafford, N.H.) and Mark Dunham (Salem, N.H.) added 11 points each for the Panthers.

Looking to reach the 1,000-point plateau, PSU's Kevin Boutilier (North Andover, Mass.) finished with four points - 17 points shy of the mark.

Keene State will host UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday (3 p.m.)