NORTH DARTMOUTH, MASS.  1/16/10 - The Tripp Athletic Center continues be an inhospitable place for the Keene State men's basketball team, who dropped a 93-74 Little East Conference game to UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday.

The Owls, who fall to 8-7 and 2-3 in the LEC, have won just three games at Tripp Center since joining the conference in 1997-98 and have lost five straight at the venue.

Having a hard time handling the UMD press, Keene State fell behind early and never recovered against the Corsairs, who improve to 10-5 and 3-2 in LEC play.  UMD scored the first 13 points of the game on the way to building a 53-27 halftime lead. 

The Owls outscored the Corsairs 17-10 out of the break to cut the lead to 66-57 on a lay-up by sophomore Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) at the 13:28 mark.  After a conventional three-point play by freshman Nicco DeMasco (Swanzey, N.H.) cut the deficit to nine points (66-57) again, UMD regroup with a 14-3 run to go back up by 20 points (80-60) with 6:37 to play.

D'Amours, who tied for game-high honors with 23 points, was nine of 12 from the field and hit three of his five three-point attempts.  Freshman Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), five of seven from the field, scored 15 points, and sophomore Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass.) added 10 points.

Brandon Shelton had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Corsairs, who knocked down 10 three pointers (10-23) in the game.

Keene State travels to Eastern Conn. on Tuesday.