KEENE, N.H.--Nate Howard led four players in double-figures as the Keene State College men's basketball team posted an emphatic 89-53 non-conference win over Colby-Sawyer College on Thursday night at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 8-3
• Colby-Sawyer: 7-4

The Series

• Keene State leads 10-3 and has never lost at home to the Chargers.  The Owls have won eight in a row against their in-state opponent.

Tale of the Tape

• Nate Howard finished with 16 points, 17 rebounds, six blocked shots, and four steals.  Ty Nichols added 16 points and four assists, while Nate Stitchell finished with 12 points and Jimmy Layman tied his career high with 10 points.  Layman also added five rebounds and blocked three shots.
• The Chargers were led by Peter Donato, who finished with 23 points on 11-for-18 shooting.  The rest of the supporting cast combined for just 30 points.
• Keene State held CSC's Wol Majong to nine points, just above half his average.
• The Owls had assists on 26 of their 38 baskets, and committed just 13 turnovers.

First Half Highlights

• Consecutive layups from Majong and Donato gave the Chargers a 7-6 lead, but the Owls went on an 11-2 run as Tre' Tipton fed Jaquel Edwards for a three pointer and Stitchell picked Kohl Meyers' pocket and fed Nichols for a fast break layup.
• The Owls stretched the lead to 30-18 with Carlos Ovalle's three pointer with 8:28 left in the first half.
• Colby-Sawyer cut the lead to 48-26 at half on two free throws from Jake Maynard.

Second Half Highlights

• Keene State picked up where they left off in the second half, as Howard had an offensive rebound and slam dunk for a 57-32 lead.
• Ovalle's long two with 8:12 to play gave the Owls a 30 points lead at 74-44.
• Charles McClain's jumper with 4:52 left ensured that every Keene State player who got into the game scored.
• Layman's two free throws with 26 seconds to go gave the Owls their biggest lead and the final margin of victory.

Up Next

• Keene State returns to Little East Conference play with a 3 p.m. matchup on Saturday at the University of Southern Maine.
• Colby-Sawyer does not play again until January 14, when they will host Castleton University in a North Atlantic Conference contest slated to tip-off at 7:30 pm.