NORTH ADAMS, Mass. 11/22/11 – The Keene State College men's basketball team is heading into the thanksgiving break undefeated, after a 103-75 victory over the Mass. College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) on Tuesday night.

With the victory KSC improves to 4-0 before the break for the second time in two years. "I think it's different this time," said KSC junior forward Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.). "We are all working much harder and playing better as a team."

"I thought one thing we did well was we played hard," said KSC head coach Rob Colbert. "This could have been a trap game right before the break but we came away with the win. If we want to be better we have to execute our half-court offense more effectively."

The story of the game was fouls, as both teams combined for 68 fouls and 94 free throws, with KSC making 37-of-49, while MCLA made only 23-of-45.

KSC had five players in double-figures but senior Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) finished the contest with 21 points on seven-of-10 shooting in nineteen minutes of action to lead the way. Fazio totaled 15 points followed by Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) and his 13 points. Senior Steve Boudreau (Andover, Mass.) and junior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) rounded out the double-figure scoring with 12 points each.      

Sophomore center Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for KSC who out-rebounded MCLA 46-36.

Keene came running out of the gates and quickly built a 15 point lead at the 8:51 mark of the opening half (29-14) following a Mariano jumper.  The Owls would go into the locker room with a comfortable 51-34 lead.

In the second half KSC would open the lead to 29, on a three-ball from D'Amours with 3:51 to play. The Trailblazers couldn't cut into the lead, as KSC led by at least 16 the entire second half en route to the non-conference victory.

Keene State returns to action next Tuesday, as they will travel to Springfield College for a 7 p.m. tip-off.