WILLIMANTIC, Conn. --  The Keene State College men's basketball team shot 57.1 per cent in the first half - sinking eight of 15 three-point field goals in the process - and went on to a 97-71 Little East Conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday night at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

The win is the fifth in the last six games for Keene State (12-7, 5-3 little east), which was coming off a three-point loss at the Univeristy of Southern Maine Saturday. Eastern (11-8, 4-4 little east) had a three-game winning streak snapped in falling to 2-12 against the Owls in the last 14 meetings.

By winning, Keene breaks a three-way tie for third place in the conference with Eastern and Southern Maine. Keene and Southern Maine keep pace with LEC leaders UMass Dartmouth and Rhode Island College, while Eastern drops into fifth place, two games ahead of Western Connecticut.

"I thought we shot well, but we also did a good job at the other end of the floor," said KSC Coach Colbert about his team's quick start.  "It was our most complete game this season."

Colbert shuffled his starting line-up with Sandel White replacing Travon Little.  The moved seemd to energize both players.  "At the start of the game Coach (Colbert) said just bring the energy and we never turned back," said White, who made his first career start.  "It just another role I have to play.  Whether it's starting or coming of the bench, last man or sixth man, whatever they need me to do I do."

I think it served as a stimulus for both players," said Colbert.  "Travon came of the bench and gave us some good minutes. I don't know how long it's going to last, but it worked well tonight."

White's hustle, running and stretching the defense opened up the floor for the Owls and set up the team's outside shooters. 

Ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.465), Eastern could not contain the LEC's top-ranked offense (84.3 ppg.).  Keene's lead reached double figutres seven minutes into action, and peaked at 18 nine minutes before halftime.

Although the game featured the conference's top-rated three-point shooting team in Eastern (.411) against the second worst-ranked club in Keene State (.344), the visitors connected on 56.5 per cent from behind the arc (13-for-23) while Eastern missed 14 of 22 (36.4). Despite ranking sixth among eight LEC teams in free throw percentage (.710),  Keene cashed in on 18 of 21 free throws (85.7).

Senior guards Anthony Licitra (12 points) and Shiwon Davis (10) came off the bench for 22 first-half points, and starting junior forward Tyler Kathan contributed ten to power the Owls to a 50-point first half. In the game, Keene's six bench players amassed 64 points, while Eastern's reserves were limited to 16.

Licitra led five double-digit scorers with 17 points, Kathan adding 14, Davis and Travon Little 12 each and Nick Drouin 11. Led by Little's game-high ten rebounds, Keene doubled up the Warriors on the boards (44-22), with 19 offensive rebounds netting them 22 second-chance points.

Eastern sophomore guard Edwin Ortiz (Hartford) paced Eastern with 17 points, senior forward Kevin Zalucki (Enfield) scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.

Keene State's tough stretch of away game continues on Saturday when it visits R.I. College for a 3 p.m. LEC game.