DANBURY, CONN  1/8/13 – The Keene State College men's basketball team began its three game Little East Conference road trip with a 85-72 win over Western Conn. State University at the Feldman Arena on Tuesday night.

Winners of three of their last four games, the Owls (8-5, 3-1LEC) move back into the logjam at the top of the LEC standings with KSC, Southern Maine, Rhode Island College and Eastern Conn. all posting 3-1 conference marks.  Western Conn. falls to 3-10 (1-3 LEC).

Playing near his hometown of Wallingford, Conn., sophomore Tom Doyle scored a season high 19 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals to lead the Owls.  Senior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine) had 15 points while senior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) finished with 13 points, two shy of the 1,000-point career milestone.  He also had a team high seven rebounds.

Sophomore Joe Groski (Danbury, Conn.) had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Colonials. 

Leading by as many as six points in the first half (22-16), the Owl needed a jumper at the buzzer by Doyle to tie the game 34-all at the break.

Keene State's defensive pressure triggered a 15-4 run out the break.  A block by senior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) led to a lay-up by Doyle.  In KSC's next possession, freshman Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) hit a lay-up off the glass to put the Owls up 49-38 at the 16:22 mark.  After WCSU cut the lead to five (52-47), Keene State went back to work, building  its lead back up to 18 points (69-51) on a dive by Tipton.

The Colonials made another run at the Owls. A deep three-pointer by senior Shawn Mobillio (Seymour, Conn.) made it a 71-63 game with 4:10 to go.

KSC put the game away from there.  Crashing the offensive glass, senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) hit a put-back.  In the Colonials' next trip down the floor, Wright jumped the passing lane. His steal led to a pair of free throws by Mariano that pushed KSC's lead back up to 12 points (75-63) with 2:11 to play.

Fazio finished with 11 points while Wright chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Junior Russell Payton (Stratford, Conn.) scored 13 points, sophomore Luis Bridtter (Stamford, Conn.) added 12 points and junior Mark Laporte (New Milford, Conn.) and freshman Phil Starks (Bloomfield, Conn.) each finished with 10 points for Western Conn.

Keene State had a strong game on the boards, out-rebounding the Colonials 39-28.

Keene State shot 30-61 (49%) from the field and 2-8 (25%) from behind the arc.  The Owls were 23-26 (88%) from the line compared to WCSU (4-6 (67%).

Keene State continues its LEC road trip with a game at Rhode Island College on Saturday.