'KEENE, N.H. 2/7/06 - Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) had 23 points and seven rebounds and David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) finished with 15 points and five assists to lead Keene State College to a 71-59 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference men's basketball game played at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday.

Winners of four of its last five games, KSC improves to 15-6 (8-3 LEC) while ECSU falls to 7-14 (2-9 LEC). Sophomore Carl Slate (N. Attleboro, Mass.) added 11 points for KSC.

"The last time we played them we came out flat, so it was a game we got pumped up to play tonight," Sullivan said.

Sullivan had 12 first half points as KSC held a 29-23 at the break. 

The Owls opened up the second half with an 18-2 run to take a 22 point lead (47-25) at the 14:33 mark.  Sontag fueled the Owls' rally with seven points.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Kris Johnson (Sturbridge, Mass.) cut  the Owls' lead to nine points (58-49) with 6:40 to play.  KSC got the lead back up to 17 (68-51) on a lay-up by Sullivan with three minutes to go.

Johnson finished with 15 points and Leon Martin added 10 points for the Warriors.

The victory by KSC tied the season series between the two teams.  The Warriors upset the Owls 83-74 earlier this season in Willimantic.  

KSC hosts WCSU on Saturday while ECSU entertains UMass-Dartmouth.

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