SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 1/10/08 - It's all in the numbers.
   

With his team needing a change of fortune after dropping five of its last six games, Keene State Coach Rob Colbert decided  to change his players' uniform numbers for Thursday nights' non-conference game at Springfield College. The Owls also changed around the numbers on the scoreboard, rallying from a 16 point deficit late in the first half to pull out a dramatic 80-76 win over the Pride at recently named James Naismith Court.
   

"I just wanted the guys to go into the game feeling a liitle looser and take their minds off our recent struggles," said Colbert.
   

Colberts' aversion didn't seem to be helping the Owls (7-5)in the early going as they fell behind by 16 points with 2:39 remaining in the the first half.  But with just four ticks left on the clock, Keene State's Nate Anderson hit a three to cut the Pride (5-7) lead to 13 heading into the locker room. 
   
A Pat Crean fast break lay up 2:10 into the second half once again built the Pride's lead to 16.  However, the Owls slowly chipped away and got within eight after an Eric Malkowski put back made the score 47-39 with 14:22 left in regulation. 

However, the Pride used a conventional three-point play by freshman Russ Krichman to regain a 14-point advantage with 10:00 to go.  After a pair of Dan White  free throws put the Pride up 10 with 6:53 left, the Owls forged a furious rally.  Over the next 3:20, Keene State rattled off a 16-5 run to take its first lead of the game, 71-70, capped off by a triple from Anthony Licitra.  The Owls used three-balls from Licitra, Shiwon Davis, Tyler Kathan, and Nick Drouin to get right back in the game.

"We used our press to speed up the game," said Colbert.  "It gave the guys less time to think about their shots.  We got on a roll and it was just a matter of time before we got back into the game."

On the ensuing possession, Crean sank a pair from the charity stripe to give the Pride a one-point advantage.  Tyler Kathan answered right back on the Owls next time down the floor as he also sank a pair, making the score 73-72, in favor of Keene State.  Ryan Blackmon and Travon Little traded layups inside before a Kathan free throw gave the Owls a two-point lead.  Once again, Crean answered for the Pride with a 18-foot jumper to knot the game at 76 with 1:15 left on the clock.

Davis was sent to the line and made just one, putting the Owls up by one with 56 seconds remaining.  Crean's  jumper from the top of the key with 32 seconds left was off and Keene State went on to make three of four from the free-throw line down the stretch to hold on to the victory.

Daly finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds to notch his third-straight double double while Blackmon finished with 17 points.  White tallied a career-best 11 points and dished out three assists and had three steals in one of his finest games at Springfield while Crean chipped in with 10 points and seven boards.  Springfield took advantage of 15 KSC turnovers and turned them into 16 points.

Kathan finished with 17 points as did Little.  Anderson added 14 points while Drouin chipped in with 11 off the bench.  Keene State played 14 players in the game, compared to just eight for the Pride.

Colbert hopes the win against the Pride will give the Owls some momentum heading into Saturday's game against LEC front-runner UMass-Dartmouth.

"I hope this game gives us the confidence that we can survive tough times and give us some reassurance going up against some strong teams," he said. 

"There's no reason why if we play hard, good things won't happen."

The Owls travel on the road to UMass Dartmouth Saturday.  Tip off is scheduled for 3 pm.