KEENE, N.H.--The Keene State College men's basketball team ended a three game conference losing streak with a 71-64 win over Rhode Island College on Saturday afternoon at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 9-5, 2-3 LEC
• Rhode Island College: 2-14, 1-4 LEC 

Series

• Rhode Island College leads 29-20.  Keene State has now won two in a row over RIC after an eight game losing streak to the Anchormen

Tale of the Tape

• All five starters scored in double-figures for Keene State, led by a season high 18 points from junior Jeff Lunn.  Matt Ozzella had 17 points, nine rebounds, and three steals, while Ty Nichols, Nate Stitchell, and Nate Howard each had 10 points.  Stitchell also passed out six assists, while Howard had 10 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double.
• Howard also had a pair of blocked shots, making him Keene State's all-time leader in that category.  The senior now has 179, passing Marcus Debro, who played from 1979-1983. Through 14 games, Howard already has 40 blocked shots, putting him on pace for 74 this season and 213 for his career.   Should he reach 74 in a season, that would tie Debro's single season record set in 1982-83.
• Jimmy Fritzon led the Anchormen with 17 points, while Chris Green and Roosevelt Shider each chipped in 13.  Rhode Island College kept the game close by making 11 three pointers. 
• Keene State held a decisive 43-27 edge in rebounding.  The Owls also made more free throws (19) than the Anchormen attempted (11).

First Half Highlights

• Green and Fritzon shot the Anchormen into an early 8-4 lead with three pointers less than 20 seconds apart, but Keene State tied the game on layups from Lunn and Nichols.
• Carlos Ovalle's layup broke a 14-14 tie with 8:06 left in the first half and started a mini-run capped by two free throws by Ozzella for a 20-17 lead.
• Lunn converted a three point play with 2:23 to play in the opening half to put Keene State up 30-29, but the Anchormen scored the final five points of the half taking a 34-30 lead on a jumper from Terrance Tribble.

Second Half Highlights

• The Owls opened the second half on a 13-4 run.  Stitchell opened it with a three pointer off a pass from Nichols, Howard had a slam dunk, and Nichols converted a three point play.  Ozzella rounded it off with a pair of free throws for a 43-38 lead.
• Green's jumper with 9:07 to play cut the lead to 51-48, only to see the Owls respond when Stitchell set up Ozzella for a three and Lunn score inside for a 56-51 lead.  
• Fritzon made another three with 4:32 left that put RIC back in front 59-57, but the Owls slammed the door shut, ending the game on a 12-7 run.  Howard had the record-tying blocked shot and dunked on the other end with 3:18 to go, then swatted aside Green's layup with 51 seconds left to break the record.
• Nichols had a layup and a pair of foul shots in the final 24 seconds to set the final margin.

Up Next

• Keene State heads out of conference play for a road date with Trinity College (Conn.) on Monday at 7 p.m.
• Rhode Island College hosts UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.