MONTCLAIR, N.J.  12/28/12 – Stepping to the line with the game on the line, senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was only able to make one of two free throw attempts with one second to play, enabling Mary Washington (Va.) University to hold on for a 82-81 victory over Keene State College in an opening-round game of the Team Hill Holiday Classic at Montclair State University on Friday.

"Obviously we'd like to have seen his second shot go down and get into overtime, but it just didn't happen," said a disappointed KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "But that's now why we lost the game."

Keene State (5-4) will face host Montclair State in the consolation game of the tournament on Saturday (1 p.m.). Bridgewater State overcame a 12 point halftime deficit to defeat the Red Hawks 78-75.  It's the first time the Owls haven't reached the finals of the tournament in their three appearances.  Mary Washington improves to 4-5.

Senior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) had a season high 27 points to lead the Owls. Sophomore Sean Armstrong (Richmond, Va.) led MWU with 22 points.

Waking up early for the five hour and 20 minute trip to Panzer Athletic Center in Montclair N.J., the Owls had a tough time finding their game legs, falling behind 21-9 in the early going.

Chipping away at the Eagles lead, the Owls eventually tied the game on a lay-up by junior Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) with 2:45 to play in the half. Mariano, who had 14 first half points for KSC, hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to make it 36-all at the break.

Keene State fell behind again in the second half, finding itself down 61-48 after junior Dom Morra (Burke, Va.) hit a three-pointer.

Keene State went on a 19-6 run to get back in the game, trying the score at 67-all on a couple of free throws by junior Jim Hepple (Newington, Conn.) with 6:52 to go.

Trailing 79-74, senior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Me.) scored four straight points on a pair of free throws and a jumper to get KSC within a point (79-78) with 31 seconds to play.

The game was decided at the free throw line.  Morra and Mariano traded free throws to keep it a one-point game with 18 second on the clock.

Morra hit one of two free throws to give MWU an 82-80 lead with 16 seconds to go.  With one second to play, Armstrong fouled Fazio, who hit his first shot but missed his second attempt.

"Every time we made a good play, we'd give the ball right back to them," said Colbert.  "I'm not happy with the way we're playing or competing right now."

The Owls won the battle of the boards 45-33, but committed 24 turnovers in the game. 

Martin scored 14 points and Fazio finished with 11 points for the Owls.  Walcott tied his career high with 11 rebounds to go with five points.

Junior Bradley Riester (Richmond, Va.) had 20 points and Morra finished with 16 points for the Eagles.

The Owls shot 46% from the field (28-61), hit seven of their 20 three-point shots (35%) and was 18-25 from the line (72%).