'BEVERLY, MASS. 11/21/06 - The Keene State College men's
basketball team passed its first road test of the season with a
79-61 non-conference victory over Endicott College at the Post
Center in Beverly, Mass., on Tuesday night.
Failing to reach the 100 point mark for the first time this
season, the Owls still had plenty of offense to remain undefeated
(3-0). Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H.) and Tyler Kathan (Ludlow,
Vt.) shared team high honors with 16 points a piece. Newcomer
Shiwon Davis (Bridgeport, Conn.) had a fine overall game with 11
points, three assists, and four assists.
Creating turnovers with their pressing defense, the Owls went up
by 11 (36-25) on a steal and lay-up by Davis. Kathan, who had
13 first-half points, hit a three in the closing minute to give KSC
a 41-27 lead at the break.
Wearing the Gulls down, the Owls put the game away in the second
half. Kevin Ritter (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) ignited a 7-0
run with a put-back after going high for a rebound. Brandon
Robinson (Jericho, Vt.) followed with a finger roll lay-up and Matt
Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) hit a dagger three pointer to put the Owls
up by 22 points (66-41) with just over 10 minutes to play.
"We knew it was going to be a battle coming in here and we just
wanted to put a lot of pressure on them and get them out of their
game." said Robinson.
"We forced them into turnovers and converted them into
easy scores," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert. "As the game went on they
got fatigued and we were able to take advantage of that."
Keene State forced 24 Gull turnovers and finished the game with
17 steals.
Mike Sullivan (Marshfield, Mass.) had 17 points and Joey Burgos
(Lawrence, Mass.) finished with nine points and eight rebounds for
Endicott (1-2). The Gulls have captured three straight Commonwealth
Coast Conference championships and NCAA berths.
Keene State had dropped two out of its last three games against
Endicott, including a 76-75 game in 2004-05 that was won with a
last second shot. "To get a good quality road win like this
early in the season is huge for us," said Colbert. "At this
stage of the season, you're trying to build confidence, and a game
like this accomplishes that."
Keene State has a week off before traveling to Concord Tech to
face New England College in the Jacobs Bridge through Autism
Tournament next Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
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