PHOENIX, Ariz.--The Keene State College men's basketball team fell in a wild 112-102 triple overtime contest to Loras College (Iowa) at the Arizona Shootout on Wednesday.

The Owls are now 6-3 this season, while the Duhawks are 5-6.  Keene State had not played a triple overtime contest since a 118-109 defeat to Tufts University on December 6, 2006.

Nate Stitchell rebounded from a tough game against Wisconsin-Stevens Point the night before to score 29 points, including the three pointer at the regulation buzzer to force overtime.  Classmate and namesake Nate Howard had a season high 22 points with 19 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the two were joined in double figures by Matt Ozzella, who finished with 18 points, and Ty Nichols, who added 13.

Down six at halftime (38-32), Keene State rallied from a 74-68 deficit in the final 1:48.  Howard tipped back the rebound of a Stitchell three pointer, then grabbed the defensive board on the other end after Justin VanWanbeke missed a jumper.

Stitchell made 1-of-2 at the free throw line with 46 seconds left, and Nichols forced a turnover from the Duhawks' Mirko Grcic.  Tre' Tipton tied the game at 74 with 18 seconds left, but the Duhawks must have thought they had the game won when Nolan Timp made a three on the other end with seven seconds to go.  

Stitchell had other ideas, taking the ball and connecting on an off balance shot to force extra time.  Back-to-back baskets from Howard in the early stages of the overtime put KSC up 81-77, but the Duhawks tied the game at 83 on Justin Schneider's three point play with 1:38 left.  

After Howard made one free throw, Loras tok an 86-84 lead with 18 seconds on another three point play, this one from Ryan DiCanio, but Nichols' layup with 10 seconds left forced a second overtime period.

Each team scored just four points in the second overtime; Nichols gave Keene State a 90-88 lead with 2:52 to go, and Vanwanbeke tied the score with 57 seconds remaining.  Tipton and Vanwanbeke each had chances to put their teams in front, but the shots were off target and a third overtime beckoned.

The Owls, already missing starters Ozzella and Jeff Lunn, who had both fouled out, missed their first two field goal attempts of the third overtime while the Duhawks scored the first 10 points of the period to put the game out of reach.  Two foul shots by Stitchell got the Owls within 101-94, but the Duhawks made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to keep Keene State at bay.

Vanwambeke led all players with 34 points.  Keene State struggled at the free throw line, making just 11 of 24 attempts, while Loras connected on 25 of 37 shots from the charity stripe.

The Owls will return to the Granite State to host Colby-Sawyer College on January 5.