PLYMOUTH, N.H.--Plymouth State University had just enough in overtime to deal a 78-76 setback to Keene State College in Little East Conference men's basketball action on Wednesday night at Foley Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 13-9, 6-5 Little East Conference
• Plymouth State: 13-8, 5-6 Little East Conference 

The Series

• Keene State leads 30-18.  The Panthers earned a split of the season series; Keene State had won in overtime back on January 20.  It was the fourth overtime meeting between the two rivals.

Tale of the Tape

• Reigning LEC Rookie of the Week Ty Nichols led KSC with 17 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line.  Jaquel Edwards had 15 points, and Nate Stitchell added 13.  Lucas Hammel, playing for the first time since December 12, had eight points and four rebounds in 25 minutes.
• Nick MacGregor led six Panthers in double-figures with 14 points off the bench.  Uche Nwokeji and Ernie Johnson each had 12, while Brian Boulay and Curtis Arsenault added 11 apiece and Jack Preston had 10.
• Keene State lost despite shooting 26-for-33 from the free throw line.  The Owls had just six assists on 21 field goals.

First Half Highlights

• Five straight points from Stitchell gave Keene State a 17-12 lead with 11:35 left in the first half.
• The Owls stretched the lead to 28-19 when Nate Howard made a pair of foul shots with 5:06 remaining in the half.
• Hammel drained a three with 17 seconds left that pushed the Owl lead to 39-31, but Boulay hit one of his own with two ticks on the clock that trimmed the lead to 39-34 at halftime.

Second Half Highlights

• Stitchell made another three, this one with 15:19 to go, for a 45-38 lead.  The Panthers got back within two (47-45) on a free throw from Jack Preston, and tied the game at 48 on a Boulay three.
• After Boulay made a three with 8:15 to go for a 55-50 lead, Stitchell made two free throws and Edwards a three to tie the score at 55.
• The Panthers appeared to have the game wrapped up when MacGregor made a three with 2:48 to go and Nwokeji scored inside for a seven point (72-65) lead.
• Hammel hit a three on the next KSC possession and two PSU turnovers led to a pair of baskets, including a layup from Matt Ozzella with 46 seconds left that capped a 7-0 run that tied the score at 72.
• Arsenault and Nichols traded layups that tied the game at 74, and Nwokeji missed a layup with two seconds left that sent the game to overtime.

Overtime Highlights

• Both teams struggled in overtime; the Panthers missed their first six shots and the Owls their first five.  Neither team scored in the extra frame until Preston scored inside with 51 seconds left.
• Arsenault fouled Ozzella, who made two free throws that tied the game at 76.  After Ernie Johnson missed a three, Nwokeji was fouled and made the first.  He missed the second but got his own rebound and was fouled again, where he went 1-for-2 again, and the Owls could not connect on a deep heave to force a second overtime.

Up Next 

• The Owls head to Western Connecticut State on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off.
• The Panthers host UMass Boston on Saturday, also at 3 p.m.