KEENE, N.H.--Ty Nichols' three point play with 2:34 remaining put Keene State College in front for good as the Owls saw off the University of Southern Maine 73-70 in Little East Conference action on Saturday at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 13-8, 6-4 Little East Conference
• Southern Maine: 12-9, 6-4 Little East Conference 

The Series

• Keene State leads 32-6.  The Owls earned a season split with the Huskies; both games were decided by a total of four points. 

Tale of the Tape

• Nichols led all players with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting, with seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Nate Howard, honored on Senior Day before the game, had his 10th double-double of the season with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots.  Nate Stitchell added 16 points and five assists.
• Southern Maine sharpshooter Jose Nouchanthavong led the Huskies with 18 points, but the Owls limited him to 5-for-14 shooting from the field.  Atencio Martin had 14 points, and Cole Libby netted 17.
• As in the first game, the starters were key;  Southern Maine had all but 11 points from the starting five, while Keene State starters combined for 58 of the Owls' 73 points.
• Also honored on Senior Day were Tre' Tipton and Nate Stitchell.

First Half Highlights

• Keene State had to recover from a slow start - the Owls committed four turnovers and missed five shots as the Huskies rolled out to a 14-3 lead in the first five minutes.
• The Owls pecked away at the lead, as Nichols fed another senior, Tre' Tipton, for a jumper with 10:52 to go that cut the lead to 14-11.
• Nichols' steal and fast break layup gave the Owls a 20-16 lead, but the Huskies went on an 11-6 run as Nouchanthavong was fouled on a three point attempt and made all three shots with 3:55 to go for a 27-26 advantage.
• KSC scored the final six points of the half, going up 33-27 when Jaquel Edwards banked in a three pointer at the buzzer.

Second Half Highlights

• Nichols opened the second half with five consecutive points as KSC extended the lead to 38-27, and when Howard knocked down a pair of free throws with 14:55 top lay, the Owl lead was 45-35.
• This time it was the Huskies' turn to chip away, finally tying the game at 49 on a three from Zach Leal with 10:09 to go.
• Atencio Martin made a pair of free throws with 5:17 to play for a 63-57 Southern Maine lead, but the Owls responded with nine straight points, the first two of which were a monster dunk by Howard, and the last two the aforementioned three point play from Nichols that put KSC ahead 66-63.
• Aaron Toman converted a three point play of his own with 26 seconds left to get within two at 7-68, and when Nichols was 1-for-2 from the line at the other end, USM had a chance to force overtime, but Leal turned the ball over and Stitchell made two free throws to salt away the win.

Up Next

• Keene State travels to Plymouth State for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday night.   
• The Huskies host UMass Boston on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.