CHICOPEE, MASS. 11/20/12 – The first meeting between Keene State College and Elms College turned out to be a barn-burner.  Strong defensive play and clutch free throwing shooting down the stretch enabled the Owls to come away with a 71-66 non-conference men's basketball victory over the Blazers at Picknelly Arena in Chicopee, Mass. on Tuesday night.

Keene State improves to 2-1 while Elms College, which drops its home opener,falls to 1-2.

Senior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) scored 15 points, pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and had three key blocks late in the game to lead the Owls.  "Rashad definitely took another step forward, carrying us late in the game," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "We got into foul trouble with some of our other big-men early, so he had to play a long stretch."

Switching to a zone defense late in the game proved to be a key move for the Owls.  "It took away some of their dribble drive stuff," Colbert said.  "We're not a very good team right now.  We have a long way to go. I thought we escaped with a win tonight."

A fast-paced first half featured runs by both teams.  Junior Jim Hepple (Newington, Conn.) picked up a loose ball and beat the clock with a scoop shot to give Keene State a 39-33 halftime lead.

The back-and-forth game wasn't decided up the closing minute of play.  Wright triggered the Owls late-game effort.  After hitting two free throws to give KSC a 66-63 lead at the 1:28 mark, Wright blocked a shot by Elms senior guard Andre French (Torrington, Conn.) at the other end of the court.

In Keene State's next possession, freshman Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) hit one of two free throws to make it 67-63.  The Blazers' Charles Basin (Riverdale, Md.) knocked down a three-pointer with 57.8 seconds to go to make it a one point game (67-66).

The game became a free throw contest from there.  Senior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine) and Wright each hit free throws to put the Owls up 69-66 with 23 second to play.  After French's three-point shot went long, senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) grabbed the rebound and was fouled.  He connected on both his attempts from the line to seal the win for Keene State. 

Fazio finished with 14 points and eight rebounds while senior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) who had a strong first half, scored 13 points and had six rebounds.

French finished with a game-high 19 points for the Blazers, who play in the Great Northeast Conference.  Senior David McDaniel (Plainfield, N.J.) scored 11 points.

Keene State shot 39% from the field (20-52), and had a tough time behind the arc, connecting on just four of 17 three-pointers (24%) and at the line (27-40, 68%). 

The Owls barely won the battle on the boards (48-46).

Following the Thanksgiving break, Keene State will host Springfield College on Tuesday, Nov. 27 (7:30 p.m.).