NEW PALTZ, N.Y.  11/23/10 – The turkey will taste a little bit better for the Keene State men's basketball team after they defeated SUNY-New Paltz 91-75 in a non-conference game at the Hawk Center on Tuesday night.

The fourth-time proved to be the charm for the Owls, who defeated the Hawks for the first time in four meetings.  Keene State is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2007-08 season. New Paltz (3-1) suffers its first loss of the season.

Three sophomores led the Owls. Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine), who hit nine of his 13 shots for the field, had a game and season high 25 points to lead the Owls. Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) scored 15 points while Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) finished with 12 points and a game high 14 rebounds.  Playing not too far from home, sophomore Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) had a big game with 16 points and six rebounds.

Junior Harris Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.) led the Hawks with 15 points.

Leading 47-35 at halftime, the Owls went up 54-45 on a three-pointer by Martin.

New Paltz cut the lead to six points (60-54) after a steal and lay-up by freshman Taylor Sowah (Bronx, N.Y.) at the 14:11 mark.

Utilizing its up-tempo style and good ball movement, Keene State broke open the game open by scoring the next 12 points to  go up 72-54 following a pair of free throws by Fazio with 10 minutes to play.

Martin, who also had six assists, hit a couple of jumpers during the run. "Coach told us in the second half to keep putting it to them and play our game," said Martin, who played at UMaine as a freshman and sat out last year. "I'm still getting the rust off, but game-by-game I feel I'm coming back.  "I love the way we play. We rotate in a lot of players and have good chemistry. It's fun to be a part of this team."

Later in the half, Martin knocked down a three-pointer and in the Owls' next possession faked a shot and fed Wright for a dunk that gave KSC a 79-60 lead.

The Owls had a good shooting night, hitting 36 of their 68 shots from the field (53%) and knocked down eight of their 19 shots from behind the arc (42%).

Keene State returns to Spaulding Gym next Tuesday for a non-conference game against Springfield College.