SCRANTON, PA. 1/2/10 - So much for the concerns of being rusty after a three week lay-off.  Returning to the court for the first time since Dec. 12, the Keene State College men's basketball team rolled to a 106-82 victory over the Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) in an opening-round game of the PNC Bank Invitational in Scranton, Pa. on Saturday.

            Extending their wining streak to a season high three games, the Owls (6-5) will play the winner of the University of Scranton-Hunter (N.Y.) College game in Sunday's championship at 4 p.m.

            It might have felt like three below outside Long Center, but the Owls were scorching hot from the field in the first half, hitting 22 of their 38 shots (58 %) on the way to building up a 53-36 lead at the break.

            "Coach Colbert worked us really hard the past five days, so we wouldn't be rusty," said sophomore forward Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) , who hit his first six shots and finished with a career high 23 points.

            "Anytime you take three weeks off in the middle of the season you're concerned," but I thought the guys came out ready to play," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert. 

            Keene State, who led from start to finish, used a 12-2 spurt midway in the first half to open up a 27-10 lead. Freshman swingman Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.), who had 14 first half points, knocked down a three-point shot and Fazio scored a fast-break hoop on a nice feed from sophomore forward Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) to give KSC its biggest lead of the half (37-17) with 7:51 remaining in the first half. 

            "They're more of a set-up team, so we were able to score a lot of transition baskets," said Fazio.  "Our guards did a good job of finding the big guys going to the basket."

            Colbert said depth was also a factor. "We were able to get into their bench and got some match-ups that favored us." he said.

            Fazio, who hit 10 of his 12 shots for the field, had a fine overall performance for the Owls, tying his season high with eight rebounds and making four steals.

            Mariano, who was eight for 10 from the field, also had a big night with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.  D'Amours and sophomore Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass.) also finished in double figures with 18 points each.

            Freshman point guard Tyler Grillo (Saugus, Mass.) dished out seven assists. Making his first appearance for KSC, Monadnock product Nicco DeMasco (Swanzey, N.H.) finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes of action.

            KSC maintained the hot hand throughout the game, shooting 58% percent from the field (43-74). The Owls also had a wide 56-25 advantage on the boards.

            Greg Solyak had 16 points and Leroy Joiner added 15 points for the Hawks (5-5), who play in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference.

            "I was a little bit concerned with our toughness and tenacity especially in the second half," said Colbert. "Both Scranton and Hunter are tough teams, so we'll have our hands full no matter whom we play in the championship game."

            The host Royals of the University of Scranton won NCAA championships in 1976 and 1983 and have made 22 NCAA tournament trips, including the past two years.