MONTCLAIR, N.J.  12/29/12 – Senior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) had a game-high 21 points and junior John Boyatsis (Dover, N.H.) came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points, including four three-pointers, to lead the Keene State College men's basketball team to a 89-80 win over Montclair State University in the consolation game of the Team Hill Holiday Classic at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday.

"It was a great team victory.  Some of the other guys really stepped up," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.

Keene State (6-4) returns home after splitting its two games in the tournament.  The Owls dropped a heart-breaking 82-81 opening-round game to Mary Washington (Va.) University before bouncing back with their win over the Red Hawks.  Montclair State, which also lost a tough first-round game to Bridgewater State (78-75) on Friday, falls to 4-8.

Playing without senior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Me.), who was injured in Friday's first-round game, the Owls managed to jump on top of the Red Hawks despite early foul trouble by centers Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) and Rashad Wight (Agawam, Mass.).

"This was a great win for us.  We got contributions from a lot of different guys," said Mariano, who was named to the All-Tournament team.  "I tied to be more aggressive and attack the rim.  With Ryan down, I knew I had to step up."

Utilizing a smaller line-up, the Owls knocked down five three-pointers during a 19-5 run late in the first half to take a 31-17 lead.  The run included three baskets behind the arc by Boyatsis, back-to-back three-point hoops by Mariano, and a steal that freshman Jesse Lacroix (Orange, Mass.) turned into a lay-up.

"When everyone is hitting it's a lot harder to guard us," said Mariano.  "It opened up opportunities for different guys." 

"Fatigue became an issue because we were really getting up and down the court," said Colbert.  "They were struggling and we were bringing fresh bodies off the bench."

Sophomore Tom Doyle (Wallingford, Conn.), who had 13 first half points, and senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.)  each hit three-pointers to close out the half for the Owls, who went to the locker room with a 43-31 lead. 

The hot-shooting Owls shot 53% (17-32) from the field and 44% (7-16) from behind the arc in the first half.

Trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half,  the Red Hawks clawed their way back into the game,  cutting the Owls lead to just one point (51-50) on a lay-up by junior Michael Spence (Irvington, N.J.) at the 14:22 mark.

Boyatsis and freshman Tre'Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) ignited a 12-1 run that put the Owls up 78-65 with 4:42 to play.  Following a missed free throw by Mariano, Boyatsis hit a put-back basket and connected on a rainbow jumper in the Owls next possession.  Tipton closed out the run with a coast-to-coast lay-up and a drive to the basket. 

"I wasn't sure how much I would play because I'd been sick, but coach believed in me and put me in.  I was happy to help out," said Boyatisis.

Junior Ordel Goldson (Hackettstown, N.J.) made a steal and went in for a lay-up to cut the Owls lead to eight points (85-77) with 1:13 to go, but Wright answered with a dunk to give KSC a double-digit advantage (87-77) in the final minute of play.

"We still have a long, long way to go, but hopefully it's something we can build on when we get back home.  To come back after a difficult loss with little or no prep and win a basketball game is a good thing." 

Doyle finished with a season high 15 points.  Mariano and Doyle each pulled down a team high seven rebounds.

Senior Ken Rubenstein (South Orange, N.J.) scored 20 points and Goldston finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Red Hawks.

KSC had a good day in the shooting department, hitting 52% from the field (32-62), making eight of its 24 three-point shots (33%) and connecting on 17 of its 21 attempts from the line (81%).  The Red Hawks were 25-68 from the field (37%), 6-20 from behind the arc (30%) and 24-36 (68%) from the line.

Keene State plays at Lasell College on Thursday (7:30 p.m.)