KEENE, N.H. 1/25/11 – Ryan Martin won't forget his first game between rivals Keene State and Plymouth State University. The sophomore guard from Wayne, Me. scored 25 points on eight of nine shooting from the field, three of four marksmanship from behind the arc and a perfect six-for-six from the line to lead the Owls to a 94-85 victory over the Panthers.

"We played our game and kept attacking and being aggressive," said Martin about KSC's ability to hold off a stubborn Panther team.  "I love playing in front of a big crowd.  All the people brought a lot of energy to the game that's what we needed.  It was a big conference win for us." 

Keene State, which has won three straight, improves to 13-5 and moves into a tie for second place in the LEC with a 5-3 mark.  Plymouth State (8-9, 3-5 LEC) saw its two game winning streak come to an end. 

Playing a strong defensive first half, the Owls turned a block by sophomore Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) into a three-pointer by junior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) at the other end of the court.  Junior Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) followed with another hoop from behind the arc to stake KSC to a 27-13 lead at the 10:22 mark.

The Panthers used a 16-4 run to get back into the game. A conventional three-point play by senior Bill Stowell (Stratham, N.H.) cut the Owls lead to 31-29 with 5:19 to go. The Owls scored the final nine points of the half, capped off by a pair of free throws by sophomore Ryan Bourgeois (Bedford, N.H.) to take a 49-37 at the break.  Both teams shot well from behind the arc.  KSC knocked down eight of its 14 attempts (57%) while PSC hit seven of its 16 shots (44%). Martin hit all three of his shots from behind the arc on the way to finishing with 13 first half points. 

KSC maintained its advantage early in the second half. A turnaround jumper in the lane by junior Ollie Hunter (Bedford, N.H.) made it 61-50. With KSC up 63-50, PSU strung together seven straight points to close the gap to 63-57 on a corner three-pointer by junior Brian Chergey (Bow, N.H.). 

A three-pointer by senior Matt Feehan (Nashua, N.H.) made it a 69-66 game at the 8:29 mark.  D'Amours, who finished with 19 points, scored five straight points on a three-pointer and lay-up and Martin followed with a scoop shot in the lane to make it 80-70 with 6:06 to go.

The Panthers made one last run at the Owls. A top-of-the-key three-pointer by Chergey cut the deficit to five points (85-80) with 2:40 to play.  Senior Ryan Lambert (Derry, N.H.) knocked down another three-pointer in PSU's next possession to make it 85-83 with 2:10 to play.    

D'Amours answered with a lay-up and a pair of free throws to put KSC up 89-83.  A basket by senior Tom Dowd (Portsmouth, N.H.) made it 89-85 with 54.6 seconds on the clock. Martin was fouled on the Owls next possession. He hit both shots to give KSC a 91-85 lead with 49.2 seconds to go. After a missed Panther shot, Mariano was fouled in the rebound action. He made one of two shots to put KSC up 92-85.  Martin, who leads Division III in free throw percentage, put the game away with two more free throws to account for the final score. 

Mariano and Hunter also finished in double-figures with 14 and 13 points respectively.  They both finished with eight rebounds. 

The Panthers placed five players in double-figures.  Chergey led the way with 18 points, senior Ian Dempsey (Andover, Mass.), Lambert and Dowd each finished with 13 points, and Feehan added 11 points.  Lambert had a game high nine rebounds. 

KSC shot 49% from the field and had a 45-33 advantage in rebounding. 

The overall series between the two in-state rivals is tied at 53-53.

Keene State is at Southern Maine on Saturday (3 p.m.).  PSU travels to Johnson State on Thursday (7:30 p.m.).