BOX SCORE
KEENE, N.H. 2/9/08 - Kept in check most of the game, junior forward Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:01 to play in overtime as Keene State College, before a packed "White-Out" crowd of just under 2,000 fans, went on to upset #2 UMass-Dartmouth 92-85 in a Little East Conference men's basketball game played Saturday at Spaulding Gym.
KSC Coach Rob Colbert said it was a tremendous win for his team. "I thought Tavon Brantley was a difference maker with the limited minutes he got and Kathan then hit the big shots that gave us a little separation, he said. "We had a long week off after a disappointing loss to Rhode Island College and I thought we responded very well. Hopefully we can carry over this emotional lift into the final games of the season."
UMass-Dartmouth took a two point lead (74-72) on a pair of free throws by senior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) with 14.5 seconds left to play. KSC freshman guard Tavon Brantley (Bridgeport, Conn.) raced down the court and banked in a lay-up with seven seconds to play in regulation.
Looking to get the winning hoop, Tavares missed a jumper from the corner. Senior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass.) got the rebound under the basket, but he couldn't get off a shot before time expired. Holbrook had a strong game for UMD with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
The two teams traded hoops in the first minute of overtime. Kathan, who finished with 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, hit his first of his two key three-pointers to put the Owls up 81-78 at the 3:10 mark.
UMD took advantage of an Owl turnover to tie the game at 85-all on a corner jumper by Tavares at the 1:08 mark.
Kathan gave KSC the lead for good in its next possession, hitting a three-ball from the left side to make it an 88-85 game with 1:01 to play.
"I was hesitating taking my shots in regulation," said Kathan. "In overtime, I decided to just stop thinking about things and let it go."
Following a missed shot by sophomore guard Jeff Macchi (Franklin, Mass.), Kathan grabbed the rebound. Senior forward Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H.), who had 16 points and seven rebounds, was fouled and hit both of his attempts to put KSC up 90-85 with 26 seconds to go.
Tavares, who led UMD with 22 points, missed a long three-point attempt and senior forward Travon Little (Danbury, Conn.), who finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, sank a couple of free throws to account for the final score.
Looking to make a late charge going into the LEC tournament, KSC improves to 13-8 (6-4 LEC). After winning its first 20 games of the season, UMass-Dartmouth (21-1, 9-1 LEC) suffers its first loss.
The Owls flew out to an early lead, going up 12-4 on a baseline three-pointer by Little. Little continued to be a force for the Owls in the early going of the game. Taking a pass from senior guard Shiwon Davis (Bridgeport, Conn.), he drove baseline to give KSC a 20-9 lead at the 10:58 mark. Little, who had 12 first half points, brought the Spaulding Gym crowd to its feet when he took a lead pass from Kathan and dunked the ball to put KSC up 27-14 with 6:58 to go in the half.
Senior guard Anthony Licitra (Glastonbury, Conn.) started to heat up from the outside for the Owls later in the half. His three-pointer from the corner made it 32-17.
A 6-0 spurt by the Corsairs ending with a three-pointer from freshman forward Brandon Stephens (Dorchester, Mass.) cut the lead to nine points 32-23. Licitra answered with a long three-ball from the top of the key in the closing seconds to give Keene State a 35-23 halftime lead.
Keene State shot 57% from the field (13-23) and hit five of its eight three-point attempts (63%) in the first half. The Corsairs struggled from the field hitting nine of 39 shots from the field (23%) and four of 16 shots from behind the arc (25%).
UMD chipped away at KSC lead early in the second half, consecutive three-pointers by senior guard A.J. Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) and a put-back offensive rebound by Holbrook cut the lead to two (41-39)s at 14:44.
The Corsairs took their first lead of the game on a jumper by senior forward Cory Tynes (Springfield, Mass.) at the 11:13 mark. On the next possession following a KSC time-out, he hit a three-pointer to put UMD up 49-45.
UMD opened up a six point lead with 3:55 to play when following a steal, Macchi hit a lay-up to extend the Corsairs lead to six (68-62) with 3:55 to go.
After Drouin responded with a three-pointer, Tavares hit a drive to make it 70-65. Drouin kept the Owls in the game. He hit a lay-up and then had a key tip in with 1:42 to go to get the Owls to within one (70-69).
Junior guard Reese Freeman (Cambridge, Mass.), who had 18 points and eight rebounds before fouling out, hit a jumper to make it 72-69 with 1:32 to go.
Drouin hit a couple of free throws to cut the deficit again to one point (72-71) at the 1:27 mark. After a missed shot by Tavares, Reece picked up his fifth foul and junior forward Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) made one of two free throws to make it 73-72 with 15.5 left on the clock. Anderson had 17 points and eight rebounds for KSC.
With Owl fans roaring from the stands, Tavares hit the second of two free throws. Brantley, who played sparingly this season, took matters into his on hands and hit the game-tying shot. "Coach (Colbert) told me I had the speed, just get to the basket," Brantley said. "I listened to my coach and came through. It felt great."
KSC hit nine of it 17 three-pointers (53%) and out-rebounded UMD 51-43. UMD shot 38% from the field (30-89) and was 15 of 17 (56%) from the line.
Earlier this season, UMD edged KSC 100-97 in overtime at North Dartmouth.
Both teams continue LEC play on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. with the Owls traveling to rival Plymouth State and the Corsairs returning home to face Rhode Island College.
