WILLIMANTIC, Conn.--Down 11 points with 8:39 to play, the Keene State College men's basketball team nearly completed a dramatic comeback in an 82-76 loss to Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday night at Geissler Gym.

The Owls, who have lost three in a row, are now 15-7, and 6-5 in the Little East Conference.  The Warriors improve to 18-4, and 10-1 in the LEC.

Tom Doyle and Matt Ozzella each scored 21 points and ripped down six rebounds for for Keene State, while Jeff Lunn chipped in 16 points off the bench.  

Tarchee Brown led all scorers with 25 points, while Collin Jordan and Hugh Lindo both had 17 points for the Warriors.

The Owls, who led 44-32 at halftime, saw their lead cut to three as the Warriors opened the half on a 16-7 run, powered by Brown, who scored 12 points during that stretch.  After Brandon Kuczenski tied the game at 56, KSC's Jaquel Edwards converted a three point play to put the Owls back in front.

Eastern Conn. St. went on another run, outscoring KSC 15-2 over the next three minutes, capped by Kuczenski's layup for a 71-60 lead with 8:39 to go.  That would be the last field goal ECSU would make until there were 35 seconds to go, as the KSC comeback got started.  

Jeff Lunn fed a cutting Matt Ozzella for a layup, and Ozzella made two free throws on KSC's next possession.  After the Warriors' Kevin Leumene made a free throw, Doyle broke free for a three point attempt that rolled around the rim before dropping through to make it a 73-70 game with 2:56 to play.

Jordan and Ozzella traded free throws before Brandon Yarborough knocked down a three from the top of the key with 35 seconds remaining for a four point edge.  Brown was 1-of-2 from the line on the Warriors' next possession, but KSC had a chance to get within two as Lucas Hammel streaked down the court and was fouled as he made a layup.  He could not convert the three point play, and the Warriors made three more foul shots in the final seconds to lock up the win.

KSC had rebounded from a 17-11 deficit in the first half to take a 20-18 lead on a three from Nate Stitchell, and the Owl lead ballooned to 34-20 on a triple by Ozzella and Edwards' jumper with 6:50 left.

Doyle, who scored 15 of his points in the first half, knocked down a jumper just before the halftime buzzer to send the Owls into the break up 44-32.

KSC struggled from the foul line, making just 10-of-19 free throw attempts, while the Warriors were 26-of-36.  Eastern Conn. St. held a 45-36 advantage in rebounding, including a 16-11 edge on the offensive glass. 

"We played virtually perfectly in the first half," said head coach Rob Colbert.  "Second half, we started off well and after that, it kind of exploded.  We stopped scoring, guarding, they were getting lots of post ups.  We just didn't have enough.  We're not happy (with the loss), but we're pleased that we finally reached the level of how we're supposed to compete."

Keene State will play its final regular season home game on Saturday, hosting Western Connecticut State at 3 p.m.  The Warriors travel to UMass Dartmouth on February 14 for a 3 p.m. start.