KEENE, N.H. 2/9/10 - Sophomore forward Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) had a game high 28 points, but couldn't prevent Keene State College from dropping an 86-67 Little East Conference men's basketball game to Eastern Conn. State University on Tuesday night.   The Warriors outscored the Owls 54-34 in the second half.

Keene State falls to 12-10 (5-6 LEC) and stay in sixth place in the LEC standings.  Eastern improves to 15-7 (7-4 LEC) and remain in the fourth spot with the victory.

KSC Coach Rob Colbert was disappointed in his teams' performance.  "We got beat in every effort area in the game," he said.  "We got beat to the ball, we got beat to rebounds. We just didn't have the desire needed to win."

Keene State lost the battle on the glass 52-28. The Warriors also had 20 second chance point compared to KSC's four.

Despite being outrebounded 31-16, the Owls, were able to take a 33-32 halftime lead.  D'Amours had 14 first half points for KSC.  Eastern didn't go to the line in the first half.

The teams traded baskets in the early going of the second half.  The Warriors finally pulled away, taking a nine point lead (64-55) on a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Jeremy Thompson (Berlin, Conn.).

A three-pointer by sophomore Jamie Kohn (Columbia, Conn.), who had a team high 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors, made it a 69-57 game with 5:50 to play.  Keene State wasn't able to make a dent in Eastern's lead.   A lay-up by freshman guard Joe Ives (Avon, Conn.) on a nice feed by junior forward Joe Roveto (South Windsor, Conn.) extended ECSU's lead to 16 points (79-63) with 2:32 to play.   

Sophomore forward Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass.) was the only other Owl in double figures.  He had 11 points.

Senior guard Edwin Ortiz (Hartford, Conn.) added 17 points for the Warriors.

Keene State is at Western Conn. on Saturday