PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The Keene State College men's basketball team was dealt its first conference loss of the season with a 74-58 loss to Rhode Island College at the Murray Center on Saturday.

The Owls are now 9-2, and 2-1 in the Little East Conference, while the Anchormen are 10-3, with a matching 2-1 LEC mark.  

The two teams traded baskets throughout the first 10 minutes of the game with the Anchormen (10-3, 2-1 LEC) holding a 12-11 lead over the Owls (9-2, 2-1 LEC) with 9:54 left in the first half.

Keene State opened a three point lead, 17-14, on a layup from sophomore guard Matt Ozzella off a feed from senior guard Tom Doyle with 7:21 left. The Anchormen then used an 11-4 run, keyed by four points by sophomore forward Terrance Tribble, to take a four point advantage into the locker room, 25-21.

RIC shot 37.5 percent (9-for-24) from the field in the half, while Keene shot 37.0 percent (10-for-27).

The Anchormen came out of the break strong, opening a seven point lead 4:01 into the half when Tribble took a feed from Alleyne and notched a layup. The Owls battled back and cut the lead down to one, 41-40, when sophomore forward Jaquel Edwardsscored off a feed from freshman guard Dizel Wright with just over nine minutes remaining.

A Doyle three with 8:18 left to play trimmed the RIC lead down to two, 45-43, which is as close as the Owls would get the rest of the game. The Anchormen used a stifling defense, as well as high-flying offense, down the stretch to increase the lead to 15, 64-49, on a Burton dunk with 2:36 left to play. With both teams in foul trouble, the final three minutes turned in to a free throw contest with the Anchormen coming out on top, increasing their lead to 16 to close out the game, 74-58.

The Owls were paced by Doyle's 16 points, while junior center Nate Howard finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards. KSC shot 34.4 percent (21-for-61) from the field, while shooting 23.1 percent (3-for-13) from behind the three-point arc and 44.8 percent (13-for-29) from the free throw line.

RIC was paced by Burton and Alleyne, who each scored 18, and Tribble's near double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior center Victor Smith rounded out the Anchormen in double figures with 10 points. The Anchormen shot 52.3 percent (23-for-44) from the field, 12.5 percent (1-for-8) from downtown and a solid 71.1 percent (27-for-38) from the foul line.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at Southern Maine on Tuesday, Jan. 13 (7:30 p.m.). Keene State will also be on the road, heading to Western Connecticut State on Tuesday for a 7:30 pm tip.

(Story courtesy Rhode Island College)