KEENE, N.H.--A slow start to the second half proved to be the difference as the Keene State College men's basketball team fell to Plymouth State University 76-66 in Little East Conference action on Tuesday night at Spaulding Gym.

The Owls have dropped five straight games and are now 7-16, and 4-9 in the LEC, while Plymouth State is 13-11, and 7-6 in LEC games.  It's the first time the Panthers have swept the season series from KSC since 2008-09.

Nate Howard (Cheshire, Conn.) and Jaquel Edwards (Manchester, Conn.) each posted a double-double.  Howard had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and added five blocks, while Edwards had 14 points and 13 boards.  Nick Gagliolo (Peabody, Mass.) and Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) each contributed 10 points.

The Panthers were led by 16 points from freshman Jack Preston (Nashua, N.H.), while Logan Kesty (New Boston, N.H.) and Curtis Arsenault (Berlin, N.H.) each added 15. Arsenault pulled down a team best eight rebounds.

 It was the Owls who jumped out to a 12-6 lead as Edwards converted a three point play and Tipton scored consecutive baskets.   Nate Howard's dunk in traffic with 9:01 to play gave KSC a 19-15 lead, but the Panthers went on an 8-4 run as Kesty knocked down two free throws and Preston had a conventional three point play to knot the score at 23.

Mark MacGregor (Rochester, N.H.) drained a short bucket inside to send PSU into the break up 33-32.

PSU opened the second half on a 16-5 run to break the game open.  Kesty buried three triples during that span, the last of which gave Plymouth St. a 49-37 lead with 14:16 on the clock.  KSC made their first two shots of the half, but then missed 10 consecutive attempts as the Panthers pulled in front.  

The Owls got the lead back within nine on a three from Matt Sherlock (Melrose, Mass.) but could not get closer than eight down the stretch.   PSU made 8-of-10 free throws in the final 1:15.  

"We dried up offensively in the second half," said KSC head coach Rob Colbert.  "We started by pounding it inside for two quick baskets, and then we moved to jump shots.  We've been in a bit of a lull and we didn't have it tonight."

KSC closes out the regular season by hosting UMass-Dartmouth at 3 p.m. on February 22.  The Panthers travel to Rhode Island College on Feb. 22, also slated for a 3 p.m. start.

Before the game, former KSC Stuart Kaufman was honored for his 22 years of service to the athletic department.