KEENE, N.H.--Ty Nichols and Matt Ozzella combined for 50 points, but it was not quite enough as Middlebury College handed Keene State an 83-74 setback in non-conference men's basketball action on Tuesday at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 12-8
• Middlebury: 12-8

The Series

• Middlebury has won three in a row against Keene State, and leads the all-time series 4-3. 

Tale of the Tape

• Nichols scored a career high 29 points, making 9-of-12 shots from the floor and all 10 of his free throw attempts.  Ozzella added 21 points.
• Middlebury's Matt St. Amour had a game high 32 points, 26 of which came in the second half.  Matt Daley chipped in 13.
• The Panthers went to the line 35 times, making 26 shots, and committed just 12 turnovers the entire game.  

First Half Highlights

• The Panthers zoomed out to an early 19-9 lead as Jake Brown made two threes and St. Amour another. 
• The Owls slowly chipped away, getting to within 22-15 on Jeff Lunn's jumper with 7:55 to go and Nichols' three point play made it 24-20.
• Connor Huff went 1-of-2 from the line with 1:02 left for a 31-28 lead, but Nate Stitchell's three point attempted rolled around the rim and dropped through at the buzzer to tie the score at halftime.

Second Half Highlights

• Middlebury opened the second half on a 12-2 run and never trailed again.  The Owls opened the frame 1-for-7 from the floor before Matt Ozzella's three pulled Keene State to within nine (45-36) with 14:48 to go.  
• The Owls hung around, as Ozzella converted a three point play with 10:05 left that cut the gap to 56-49, and the junior nailed another three that bounced off the back iron before falling that made it a 58-52 game.
• From there, St. Amour took over, scoring 13 points in the final 8:52, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the line as Middlebury held the Owls at bay.

Up Next

• Keene State will host Southern Maine on Senior Day this Saturday at 3 p.m.  Seniors Tre' Tipton, Nate Howard, and Nate Stitchell will be honored.  
• Middlebury hosts Colby College on Friday night at 7 p.m.