West Palm Beach, FL 12/16/08; Keene State lost to Carthage College 84-69 in their first game of the Trip Sports Classic at Nova Southeastern University Tuesday night.  The Owls drop to 6-3, (2-0) on the season and the Redman climb to 5-2, (0-0).

Both teams traded baskets and played to a tie score six different times throughout the first half.

The Owls were off and running early extending their lead to eight on a three pointer by Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, VT) with 10:38 to go in the first half. Carthage would battle back and notch the score at 27 on a running layup by Sean Fendley (Elmhurst, IL). Another jumper by Kathan took back the lead and Nate Anderson (Westminster, MA) added two free throws to extend the margin to three with 4:41 remaining in the half. A three pointer by Fendley tied the score at 34 all. Cody Snow (Leyden ,MA) added two free throws to break the tie at 36-34, but the Owls could not hold off the charging Redmen as Carthage took a 41-37 lead into the break.

The Owls surged in the second half notching the score at 51 on a Matt Petruzzelli (Gardiner , NY) three pointer with 13:49 to go. Both teams traded baskets for the next four minutes before Carthage began to pull away.  Max Cary (Geneva, IL) drained a triple with 6:10 left in the game extending the margin to four and the Redmen never looked back.

Steve Djurickovic (Pleasant Prairie, WI) led all scorers with 34 points and added six rebounds.  Fendley finished with 20 points and Cary added 10 for the Redmen. Kathan finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Anderson finished with a double double posting 13 points and 11 rebounds. Tavonne Reid (Bridgeport, CT) added 12 points and two assists to round out the scoring.

The Owls play their final game of 2008 Thursday against Loras College at 6 pm. Carthage meets Loras College Wednesday afternoon at 4:00.