KEENE, N.H.--Tom Doyle hit the go-ahead three pointer with 32 seconds left to lift the Keene State College men's basketball team to a 96-95 Little East Conference win over UMass-Dartmouth on Senior Day.

The Owls ended a five game losing streak with the win, and are now 8-16, and 5-9 in the LEC.  UMass-Dartmouth is now 15-10 overall, and 8-6 in the LEC.   The win sets up a rematch on Tuesday night in the quarter final round of the LEC tournament.  The Owls will be seeded No. 6 and will travel to the No. 3 seeded Corsairs for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Keene State was led by four players in double-figures.  Nate Howard (Cheshire, Conn.) poured in a team high 20 points with 10 rebounds, while Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) added 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists.  Doyle (Wallingford, Conn.) finished with 14 points, and Nick Fragola (North Branford, Conn.) chipped in 10 points on 5-of-6.

The Owls withstood a big game from UMass-Dartmouth's Tucker Bouchard (Kingston, Mass.)  The freshman pumped in 34 points, connecting on 10 of 16 field goal attempts and making all 10 free throws.  Abi Akanni (Fitchburg, Mass.) netted 19 points, as did Ryan Walsh (North Dighton, Mass.).

UMass-Dartmouth roared out in front, making six of their first eight three point attempts to take a 21-12 lead just 5:30 into the game.  Two free throws by Steven Handy (Oaks Bluff, Mass.) gave the Corsairs their biggest advantage at 31-16 with 10:55 to play. 

Doyle connected on a jumper on KSC's next possession, kickstarting a 21-6 run over the next six minutes.  Jeff Lunn (Nashua, N.H.) snuck in to put back the rebound of a KSC missed free throw, and after layups from Tipton and Jaquel Edwards (Manchester, Conn.), Howard brought the crowd to their feet with a thunderous alley-oop dunk from Tipton.

UMD recovered to take a 47-43 lead at halftime, as Akanni drained consecutive jumpers and Bouchard made two free throws.

The Corsairs increased their lead to 54-45 early in the second half on Handy's basket, but KSC pushed back, as Edwards fed Howard for another slam, and Tipton swished a triple to cut the lead to 56-54.  

UMD led by seven when Bouchard made two free throws with 10:33 to play, but could not put the Owls away.  Matt Sherlock (Melrose, Mass.) made a three pointer on the next KSC possession, and Howard scored four straight points as KSC cut the lead to 73-71.  After Walsh and Edwards traded free throws, KSC took the lead on a three from Matt Ozzella (Medway, Mass.).  

Fragola scored with 4:58 to play to set up a thrilling final five minutes.  A conventional three point play from Handy gave the Corsairs a 90-86 lead but Tipton's layup and Sherlock's two foul shots knotted the score at 90.

Jake Laga (Northampton, Mass.) put UMD back in front with a jumper with 1:27, but Doyle made the first of two huge three pointers eight seconds later.  Walsh answered back with a three of his own with 53 ticks on the clock, but Doyle showed no fear, draining yet another three to give KSC the lead.

"I've been struggling a bit, but I go two really good looks and I knocked them down," said Doyle.

The Corsairs had one final chance, but Walsh missed two layups in the final seconds and KSC ran out the clock.

"We got some different guys who gave us great energy today," said head coach Rob Colbert.  "We limited our turnovers and guarded when we had to.  Nick (Fragola) was great tonight.  He's been really sick, and then turned his ankle, but he comes in and gives us great minutes.  And Tom, who'd not been shooting well, knocks down the biggest shots of the game.  It was all about energy and belief."

Keene State shot 52.5% from the floor for the game, and held a massive 48-31 lead on the glass.  

Before the game, the Owls honored seniors Sean Walker and Jim Hepple, and four year manager Hung Huyhn for their contributions to the program.