PROVIDENCE, R.I.  1/8/11 – The Keene State College men's basketball team dropped its first Little East Conference game of the season, losing 96-82 to Rhode Island College at the Murray Center on Saturday.

The only bright note for the Owls (9-3, 2-1) was junior Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.), who became the 28th KSC men's basketball player to score his 1,000-point career point.  He is just the eighth junior to reach the coveted milestone. D'Amours got his 1,000-point at the 14:48 mark of the first half when he knocked down one of his patented three-point shots from the left side of the lane.  "It's a nice accomplishment, I never expected to get it so quickly," said D'Amours, who finished with nine points.  "I just wish I would've done it under better circumstances with a win."

The Owls last lead of the game came at the 14:23 mark of the first half following a jumper by sophomore Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine).  The defending LEC champion Anchormen (8-3, 3-0 LEC) took over from there, building a 58-40 halftime lead.

RIC never let the visiting Owls back into the game. RIC opened the second half with a 12-3 run, going up 70-43 on a three-point hoop by senior Antone Gray (Providence, R.I.).

Three Owls finished the game in double-figures; Martin scored a game high 19 points, junior Ollie Hunter (Bedford, N.H.) had 14 points and junior Cody Snow (Leyden, Mass.) finished with 10 points.  Sophomore Geoff Woodberry (Hyde Park, Mass.) had a team best five rebounds.

Four of the RIC's starting five finished in double figures.  Junior Mike Ankinrola (Woonsocket, R.I), who hit seven of his 10 shots from the field, and Gray each had 16 points.  Seniors Nick Manson (Newport, R.I.) and Carl Lee (Warwick, R.I.) had 12 and 10 points respectively.

Keene State is at Western Conn. State on Tuesday.