'KEENE 1/7/06 - Freshman Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) scored a season-high 24 points and pulled down five rebounds to lead Keene State to a 104-93 victory over UMass-Boston in a Little East Conference men's basketball game played Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

Keene State (9-3, 3-0 LEC) which snapped its two game losing streak, remains on top of the LEC standings.  UMass-Boston falls to 6-5 and 2-1 in league play.

Leading 36-28, KSC used an 18-8 run late in the first half to go up 54-36.   The Owls took a 61-40 lead to the locker room.   The Owls extended their lead up to 24 points (66-42) on a lay-up by David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) early in the second half. However, the Beacons  put together a late 11-2 run to narrow their deficit to 11 points (93-82) on a three-pointer by James Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) with 3:23 to play.   A lay-up and a pair of free throws by Kathan pushed KSC's lead back up to 13 and the Owls hung on for the win.

"The way we played in the last couple of games, it was important for us to play like we want to which is up tempo and forcing people to play at a speed they're not comfortable with," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "We didn't know what would happen because UMass-Boston is such an offensively talented team.  We played a little faster, and started some different guys and I'm happy with the effort. It was a good first step to get where we want to get to," he added. 

Sontag had a fine overall game for the Owls with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and six steals.  Carl Slate (North Attleboro, Mass.), and Ben Maynard (Nobleboro, Me.), making his first start since breaking his finger back on Dec. 3 against R.I. College, had 12 points each. Maynard also had eight rebounds.

Tony Barros (Dorchester, Mass.) had 21 points and Hall finished with 19 points and 11 a game high rebounds to lead the Beacons.

On Tuesday, KSC visits Western Conn, while UMB travels to Plymouth State for LEC games.