BOSTON, MA - Junior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, VT) posted a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Keene State College men's basketball team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 89-83, today in a Little East Conference contest at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMass Boston campus. The Beacons fall to 2-23 overall and 1-13 in LEC play, while the Owls improve to 15-10 and 8-6 in the final game of the regular season for both teams.

Keene State controlled the glass the entire day, owning a 64-31 advantage, including 31 offensive rebounds to keep them in the game, despite the UMass Boston defense holding the Owls to 39.5% (30-76) shooting.

The Owls, who secured the four seed with the win will go up against sixth seed Western Conn. in a first-round game at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.). WCSU moved down to the sixth spot after Eastern Conn.'s 79-77 upset win over R.I. College on Saturday.

"I think we're battled tested, considering all the scenarios we've been through this season," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert. "It all comes down to how much much desire we bring to the court on Tuesday night. If we play like we did the last time we faced them, it going to be a short run. On the other hand, if we come out and play hard with a lot of emotion I like our chances."

Both KSC and WCSU posted one-sided wins on each others court during the regular season. The Owls won 80-68 in Danbury and the Colonials handed KSC a 107-91 loss at Spaulding Gym.

The Beacons held a 4-3 edge with 18:24 to play in the first half, but it would be their last lead of the afternoon as the Owls ripped off 11 straight points to take a 14-4 advantage with 15:19 showing in the first half, fueled by nine points from Kathan. UMass Boston responded by putting together a 21-12 stretch, paced by a pair of three-pointers from senior forward Mark Doran (South Boston, MA), to pull the Beacons to within 26-25 with 6:35 left in the opening half, but Keene State closed out the half with a 17-5 run to take a 43-30 halftime advantage.

The Owls maintained a 48-36 lead with 16:34 to play in the second session, but UMass Boston reeled off nine unanswered points to cut the deficit to 48-45 with 14:23 left in the second half. Keene State bumped its lead to 57-47 with 11:36 remaining the contest, after a 9-2 burst, but the Beacons made one last effort with a 15-9 stretch, led by six points from Doran and capped by a three-point play by sophomore forward Ernst Jean (Malden, MA), to bring them to within 66-62 with 5:49 to play in the game. Keene State came back with a 19-11 run to increase its lead to 85-73 with 42 seconds left, but UMass Boston chipped away and pulled to within 88-83 on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Anthony Matlock (Seattle, WA) with five seconds left in the game before the Owls came away with the win.

"It was a very sloppy game with either team able to gain any momentum," said Colbert. "It was your typeical last game of the season with both teams trying to get through it."

Doran netted a team-high 25 points and added five rebounds, two assists and a steal for the Beacons, while Jean finished with a career-high 22 points on 8-13 from the floor to go with seven boards and a steal. Matlock contributed with 13 points and two rebounds and senior forward Amigo Paniagua (Santiago, DR) netted seven points, pulled down seven rebounds, made four steals, dished for three assists and blocked a shot in his return to the court after missing three games with an injury.

Kathan added four assists and a steal to his day for Keene State, while senior forward Travon Little (Danbury, CT) registered a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds in addition to two steals and a pair of assists. Senior guard Anthony Licitra (Glastonbury, CT) dropped in 13 points, ripped down seven rebounds, passed for two assists and came up with a steal in 20 minutes off the bench and freshman guard Tavon Brantley (Bridgeport, CT) chipped in with nine points, six rebounds, and an assist.

UMass Boston will be in action again on Tuesday, February 26 when it travels to North Dartmouth, MA as the number eight seed in the Little East Conference tournament quarterfinals to take on top seed University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, while the third-seeded Owls host number six seed Western Connecticut State University on February 26 at 7:30 p.m.

(Courtesy UMB Sports Information)