Box Score FITCHBURG, Mass.--Nate Howard's three point play with 10 seconds remaining lifted Keene State to an 87-86 non-conference win over Fitchburg State University on Thursday night.
Tom Doyle led all players with 33 points, matching a career high set earlier this season in KSC's 100-72 over Springfield College. Howard had a double-double for the third consecutive game, netting 23 points and pulling down 15 boards, adding in three blocked shots. Jeff Lunn was the only other Owl in double-figures with 11 points off the bench.
KSC improves to 11-2, while Fitchburg State, who had their four game winning streak come to an end, is now 11-4.
Keyon Armstrong's three with 14:21 left in the second half knotted the score at 51, but Doyle and the Owls continued to pour it on, going up 70-62 on the senior's layup with 7:31 to play.
Two more free throws by Doyle gave the Owls 74-66 lead with 5:03 remaining, but Fitchburg got hot down the stretch, scoring 15 of the next 22 points and tying the game at 81 when Juan Lopez drained a triple from the right wing with 16 ticks on the clock.
Jaquel Edwards' pass through traffic to Howard set the big man up for the go-ahead dunk, while drawing a foul from Troy DaCosta. Howard connected on the free throw for a three point lead, and after Doyle and Christian Dunston traded a pair of free throws, Doyle was again sent to the line with six seconds left.
The senior made one of two for an 87-83 lead, and through Leonny Burgos' half court heave at the buzzer swished through, the Falcons were one point shy.
Doyle was key in getting the Owls in front early, connecting on his first three attempts from beyond the arc in the first four minutes of the game. Howard's layup with exactly 15 minutes on the clock gave KSC a 15-8 lead, but the Falcons responded with a 13-0 run fueled by three pointers from Keyon Armstrong and Anthony Muccioli.
Nick Gagliolo, Lucas Hammel, and Lunn all had baskets in a 6-0 burst that tied the score at 21, and the difference was never greater than two points until the Owls scored the final eight points of the half as Howard completed a three point play, Doyle hit another three, and Howard made two more free throws to give KSC a 42-36 lead at the break.
"Tom played like a First Team All-League player. He wanted the ball, took good shots, made good decisions. He was special. That's the most mature game I've seen him play. Nate could have had 40 tonight." said head coach Rob Colbert. "I'm happy with where we're at, especially with the execution down the stretch."
Fitchburg State was led by 18 points from Armstrong.
Keene State resumes LEC play with a home date against UMass Dartmouth on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Falcons are off until next Tuesday, when they host Bridgewater State University in a MASCAC game that begins at 7 p.m.
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