NEWTON, MASS.  1/20/11 – The Keene State College men's basketball team rallied over the final five minutes of the game to post an 81-69 non-conference victory over Lasell College in Newton, Mass. on Thursday night.

Playing on consecutive days and coming off a tough 82-77 Little East overtime loss to Eastern Conn. on Wednesday, the Owls (11-5) found the energy to put away the Lasers (4-10) down the stretch.

Trailing by 10 points (59-49) with 10:28 to play, Keene State went to work. Fouled after knocking down a three-pointer that got KSC to within one point (63-62), junior Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) missed the free throw. However, junior Ollie Hunter (Bedford, N.H.) got then offensive and a put-back basket to cap a 15-4 run that gave the Owls a 64-63 lead with 4:55 to go.

Sophomore Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) was a force on the offensive boards in the final minutes of the game for KSC.  He scored a couple of tip-in baskets off missed free throw attempts to help the Owls build their lead.  His rebound and tip-in with 2:20 to play gave KSC a 71-66 lead.

Keene State scored the next eight points to go up 79-66.  The run featured a steal and coast-to-coast lay-up by Geoff Woodberry (Hyde Park, Mass.) a driving lay-up by Hunter and a strong slam by Wright. 

"Coach Colbert was preaching defense," said Hunter.  "We got some stops to end possessions and then came up with some big rebounds to put the game away.  "We needed this win coming off of the tough loss on Wednesday."

D'Amours came off the bench to lead the Owls in scoring with 15 points, including three hoops from behind the arc during the decisive run.  Hunter had a fine all-around game with 13 points, a game-high nine rebounds, three steals and block.   Wright finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Junior Javon Williams (Mattapan, Mass.) led the Lasers with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds.

The Owls did a nice job on the boards, out-rebounding the Lasers by a 48-35 margin. 

Keene State returns to Little East play on Saturday when it travels to UMass-Boston.