EIGHTH ANNUAL KEENE STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TIP OFF TOURNAMENT
KEENE, N.H. 11/16/07 - Senior forward Travon Little Danbury, Conn.) had a game high 21 points and senior guard Anthony Licitra (Glastonbury, Conn.) finished with 20 points to lead the preseason-No. 22 Keene State men's basketball team to an opening season 106-70 victory over Lesley University in a first-round game of the KSC Tip Off Tournament played at Spaulding Gym on Friday night.

The Owls, looking for their eighth tip off title, will face Lasell College in Saturday's championship game.  Lasell defeated Salve Regina University 77-61 in the tournament's other first-round game.

Keene State pulled a way from Lesley with a 26-4 run midway in the first half to go up 39-12 and never looked back.  Licitra had seven points in the Owls' uprising.
Leading 55-25 at the half, KSC extended its lead to 69-35 on a slam by Little and baseline three-pointer by Licitra.

"I thought we played hard and overall I was pretty happy with the effort," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  It's a good night for us when your preseason All-American (Tyler Kathan) doesn't have to do too much."

Senior guard Kevin Ritter (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) added 12 points and junior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) finished with 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds for the Owls.

Senior guard Mark Stevens (Las Vegas, Nev.) scored 18 points and freshman center Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.) had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Lynx.
Lesley will face Salve Regina in Saturday's consolation game (5:30 p.m.).

In the second game, Lasell College posted a 77-61 over Salve Regina University.

Lasell scored the last six points of the half to take a 41-34 at the break.  The Lasers remained hot coming out of the locker room with an 11-0 run to go up 52-34.   
Senior forward Jaime Crawford had 21 points to lead Lasell.  Sophomore forward Jude Briton (Hyde Park, Mass.) scored 16 points, and junior forward Jose Guitian (Miami, Fl.) finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior forward Steve Walsh (Burlington, Mass.) led Salve Regina with 20 points.