CONCORD, N.H. – 11/15/11 – The Keene State College men's basketball team made it an even dozen, improving its record to 12-0 at the Jacob's Bridge through Autism Classic with a 87-73 victory over Colby-Sawyer College at NHTI in Concord on Tuesday night.

"We've been fortunate to bring some really good teams to the Classic and also have had some really good luck," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert about the Owls' good fortune at the opening season game.  "We just seem to play well in that gym."

Keene State was led by junior Eric Fazio (Hopewell, Junction, N.Y.) who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Senior teammate Ollie Hunter (Bedford, N.H.) poured in a career-high 19 points on 8-11 shooting from the field. "I was able to get to the basket and go to the line," said Hunter.  "This is my last year. I want to go out with a good senior season." 

Making his first career start, sophomore center Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) scored just five points, but had a big impact on the glass and defensive end. He pulled down 10 rebounds and collected a game-high five blocks. Junior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine) and junior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) registered 16 and 14 points, respectively.

A lay-up by junior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) in the closing seconds of the first half sent KSC to the locker room with a 41-33 lead.

After a three-pointer by Paul Holland cut the Owls' lead to seven points (50-43) midway in the second half, KSC regrouped, pushing its lead up to 14 points (61-47) on a free throw by senior Steve Boudreau (North Andover, Mass.) with 8:36 to play. 

Colby-Sawyer made on last charge at KSC, cutting the Owls lead to seven points (69-62) on a lay-up by Koang Thok. The Owls put the game away, going on a 13-2 run that culminated with a driving lay-up by Fazio that gave KSC an 18 point (82-64) lead with 3:22 to play.

"I thought we played hard and Fazio and Montel played real well together," said Colbert.  "Ollie Hunter put the ball on the floor and attacked the basket better than he ever has.  That might be his best game at Keene State."

Colbert also saw several things the team needs to improve on.  "We turned the ball over too much and didn't value the basketball very well," he said.  "We also need to do a better job shooting at the line."

"It was your typical ugly first game," Colbert added.  "I would like to see us play with a little bit more composure down the stretch.  "We have a long way to go."

Colby-Sawyer, which is now 2-11 in the Classic, was paced by a 15 point performance off the bench from junior Paul Holland (England, UK). All of his points came via the three-pointer. Freshman Mike Dias (Carver, Mass.) recorded a double-double in his first collegiate game with 12 points and 12 rebounds.  Senior Will Bardaglio (Wayne, Maine), who played his high school ball with Keene's Ryan Martin, poured in 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting. Sophomore Stephen Thorpe (Chicago, Ill.) had six points and a game-high eight assists.

Both the Owls and Chargers will be at Spaulding Gym on Friday for the Keene State Tip-Off Classic.  Keene State will face the University of New England at 7 p.m. and Colby-Sawyer goes up against St. Lawrence at 9 p.m.  The two teams switch opponents on Saturday.