DANBURY, Conn.--The Keene State College men's basketball team rallied from an eight point halftime deficit to force overtime, but did not have enough in the extra period in an 82-77 loss to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday at Feldman Arena.

Records

• Keene State: 13-10, 6-6 Little East Conference
• Western Connecticut State: 14-9, 7-5 Little East Conference

The Series

• The Colonials swept the season series and are currently one game ahead of the Owls in the standings.   

Tale of the Tape

• Keene State was led by a double-double from Matt Ozzella, who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Nate Stitchell added 17 points, and Lucas Hammel and Ty Nichols each had 12.
• The Colonials got 22 points from Phil Starks, 21 points and 13 rebounds from Luis Briddter, and 19 off the bench from Aaron Samuel.
• Keene State struggled from long range, making just one of 16 attempts from three.  Western Connecticut was 7-for-21 from behind the arc.
• It was the second overtime game in a row for Keene State, and the fourth this season. 

First Half Highlights

• The teams went back and forth in the opening minutes; Keene State took a 12-8 lead on Stitchell's jumper, but the Colonials went on a 12-0 run capped by two free throws from Starks for a 20-12 lead.
• Jauch Green's free throw with 3:50 left extended the advantage to 31-24.
• Jaquel Edwards and Briddter traded layups in the final minutes of the half as the Colonials led 34-26 at the break.

Second Half Highlights

• Ozzella's basket with 17:13 left in the first half got the Owls within five (40-35), but Ryan Belote hit a three on the next possession and Samuel made two free throws as the WCSU lead grew to 47-37.
• The Colonials sent the Owls to the free throw line 17 times in the second half; two each from Hammel and Ozzella, plus another basket from the former trimmed the lead to 56-53 with 7:36 to play.
• Starks made threes on consecutive possessions as the Colonials went back up by seven at 62-55, but Ozzella and Hammel rallied the Owls, scoring eight of the 10 points in a run that gave KSC a 65-62 lead.
• Tre'Von Perry scored inside and Starks went 1-of-2 from the line to tie the score at 65, and Edwards missed a jumper at the buzzer that could have won it.

Overtime Highlights

• Samuel started the extra period with a three pointer, only to see the Owls counter with baskets from Nichols and Edwards to lead 69-68.
• The Colonials went on a 7-1 run powered by a three pointer from Starks to take a 75-70 lead with 43 seconds left.
• KSC got within 78-75 when Stitchell hit a three with eight seconds left, but Samuel made four free throws to ice the game.

Up Next

• Keene State hosts Eastern Connecticut State on Wednesday night at 7:30.  A KSC win would almost certainly see the Owls host an LEC quarterfinal contest.
• The Colonials head to Rhode Island College on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. start.