DANBURY, CT (Jan 15) - Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, VT) led Keene State
with 22 points, and Nate Anderson (Westminster, MA) added 19
points, including 18 in the second half, to go with eight rebounds
to lead the Keene State men's basketball team to a 80-68 victory
over Western Conn. State University at Feldman Arena on Tuesday.
Wrapping up a stretch where they have played five of its last six
games on the road, Keene State raises its record to 8-6 on the
season (2-2 in the Little East Conference) while West Conn. falls
to 8-4 (2-2 LEC).
Unlike past games where they have dug themselves an early hole, the
Owls jumped out to an early 15-5 advantage and took a 31-27 lead to
the locker room.
"We got off to a better start and made things a lot easier on
ourselves," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.
West Conn. made a run at the Owls coming back from the break.
The Colonials led by eight (53-45) with 11:45 remaining in the
game.
The Owls then jumped on Anderson's back. The junior forward,
who returned to the team after missing the first seven games of the
season, hit a key three-pointer to give KSC a 61-60 lead with 5:06
to play. A drive by Kevin Ritter and a three-pointer by
Kathan made it 68-62 with 3:43 to go.
Tyshawn Gillespie got the Colonials back to within one (69-68) with
a couple of free throws at the 1:38 mark.
The Owls didn't let this one slip away. Kathan hit another
three-pointer to make it 72-68. In the Owls' next possession,
Shiwon Davis was fouled. After hitting his first attempt, he
missed his second. But Travon Little, who finished with eight
points snuck in for the offensive rebound. He was fouled and
hit one of his shots to put KSC up 74-68 with 44 seconds to
play. The Owl's final eight points were scored from the
free-throw line giving Keene State the victory, 80-68.
Colbert said the play of Anderson in the second half was the
difference. "They didn't have any answers for him inside," he
said. "In the last few games he's starting to knock down some
three-point shots. The big guys don't want to come out and
play him and if they put a smaller guy on him, he posts them up
inside."
Senior Jamie Procino scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to
lead Western Conn.
The Owls return to Spaulding Gym on Saturday for a LEC game
against UMass-Boston. "We've worn out our road uniforms,"
said Colbert. "It will be nice to get home and start to get
into a groove."
