Providence, RI- Senior forward Tyler
Kathan (Ludlow, VT) drained a three-point basket with 10
seconds left in regulation and junior guard Bryan O'Leary
(Gilford, NH) scored the first seven points of overtime to
lead Keene State past Rhode Island College, 85-81, in Little East
Conference men's basketball action at The Murray Center.
RIC sees its record fall to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the LEC,
while the Owls improve to 6-2 and 2-0 in league play.
The Anchormen were on the verge of winning the game when senior
guard Tirrell Hill (Bronx, NY) drained a
long-range three pointer with four seconds left on the shot clock
and 25 ticks remaining in regulation to put RIC up, 72-69. The
Anchormen's defense forced a timeout call with 12 seconds left.
Kathan took the inbounds pass, avoided a defender and leaned into
the trifecta to knot the game.
Rhode Island College had two chances to win the game, but a
three-point attempt from senior guard Bobby Bailey (Fall
River, MA) caught the front of the iron and freshman guard
Rob Bentil's (East Hartford, CT) tip rimmed out at
the buzzer.
The Owls ran off seven straight points, capitalizing on three
RIC turnovers, which resulted in O'Leary's buckets, to begin
overtime. The Anchormen climbed back to within two, 79-77, with
1:16 remaining on sophomore guard Antone Gray's
(Providence, RI) layup.
Keene State senior forward Nate Anderson (Westminster,
MA) drained a big three-pointer to put the Owls up, 82-77,
with 47 seconds left. RIC senior center Wil Lyons (Warwick,
RI) potential game-tying trey came up short and Keene
State connected on two free throws to end the game.
The Owls, who trailed by 13 points, 57-44, with 12:56 left in
the second half, used a quick nine-point run, capped by an O'Leary
three to set up the late-game heroics.
O'Leary led five Owls in double figures with 20 points, while
Kathan posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman guard Quinton McMillian (Springfield, MA)
scored 12 of his 14 points in the final half.
Lyons posted his second straight double-double with a 14-point,
12-rebound effort, while freshman forward Mason Choice
(Newport, RI) was one point shy of a double-double with
nine points and 10 boards. Gray led all RIC scorers with 15 points.
The Owls are set to board a flight Monday and play Carthage
College in the Cruzin' Classic on Tuesday Dec., 16 in Fort
Lauderdale, FL. RIC is off for finals and the holidays and
will resume play at Salve Regina on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information
