'KEENE, N.H.  1/20/07 - The Keene State College men's basketball team reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Little East Conference with a 92-81 victory over Rhode Island College at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

Keene State's (14-2, 6-1 LEC) has given RIC (14-2, 5-2 LEC) both of its losses this season.  The Owls defeated the Anchormen 82-78 in Providence on Dec. 2. 

The Owls led by as many as 10 points in a highly-contested first half.  A pair of free throws by Kevin Ritter (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.)  put KSC up 44-34 at the 2:09 mark. RIC cut the Owls' lead to five (45-40) at halftime on a basket by Kmari Williams (Springfield, Mass.).

RIC chipped a way at the Owls lead and took a 56-50 lead on a drive by Williams at the 15:11 mark of the second half.

Keene State came back to take command of the game with a 19-3 run capped by baseline jumper by Ritter that put KSC up 69-59 at the midway point of the half.

The Owls' Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) and David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) buried three-pointers, and Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.)finished off a great passing play form Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Travon Little (Danbury, Conn.) to give KSC a 13 point lead (79-63 lead with 7:08 to play.

Kathan finished with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, Nick Drouin had a strong game inside with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Sontag added 14 points for the Owls.

Kinsey Durgin (Greenwood, Me.) topped RIC with 22 and six rebounds.  Bobby Bailey (Fall River, Mass.) and Tirrell Hill (Bronx, N.Y.) had 12 points for RIC>

"Your always concern after a loss on Tuesday (vs. Eastern Conn.), but I give our kids a lot of credit for coming back right back today," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.

"It's an awesome win for us," added Drouin.  "Everyone did their job. 

"On Tuesday, KSC is at rival Plymouth State and RIC goes to UMass-Dartmouth.