DANBURY, Conn.--Matt Ozzella, Jaquel Edwards, and Ty Nichols combined for 63 points as the Keene State College men's basketball team won its fourth straight game with a 92-77 Little East Conference win over Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday night at Feldman Arena.

Records

• Keene State: 10-4, 3-1 LEC
• Western Conn. State:  9-4, 1-3 LEC

How It Happened

The three headed monster of Ozzella, Nichols, and Edwards each went over 20 points as the Owls won their fourth straight game.  Ozzella led the way with 22 points, while pulling down nine rebounds, while Edwards added 21 points with eight boards.  Nichols scored 15 of his 20 points in the final eight minutes, and grabbed seven rebounds.  Lucas Hammel also reached double-figures with 10 points.

Rashard Rodriguez led all players with 26 points, and the Colonials got 18 points from Bobby Bynum and 10 from Evan Curtin.

The Colonials scored the first basket of the game on Elias Rodriguez' jumper with two seconds gone, but Ozzella scored the next eight points, completing his personal run with a three point play by putting back a miss of Edwards' shot, then swishing the ensuing free throw.  Keene State grew the lead to 13-4 on a offensive rebound and stickback by Ty Nichols, and took a 22-10 lead on Ozzella's layup with 10:49 to go.

KSC's lead stayed in double-figures for much of the rest of the half; Jeff Lunn marked his return from an 10 game injury layoff with a hoop that put KSC up 30-20 with 5:50 to go, but the Colonials closed the half outscoring KSC 15-9, as Curtin went 1-for-2 from the free throw line with 23 seconds left to cut the lead to 39-35 at halftime.

Western Conn. scored the first two baskets of the second half, tying the game at 39 on Aaron Samuel's jumper, but Jake Collagan restored the KSC lead with a jumper on the next Owls' possession.  Edwards' layup with 15:37 left gave the Owls the lead for good at 44-42.  When Ozzella drained a three with 12:31 left, the Owls were up 53-44, but Rodriguez kept the Colonials in the game, scoring seven straight points to keep Western Conn. within four (55-51).  Two free throws from Edwards and another from Ozzella restored a double-digit lead at 65-54, and the Colonials would not get closer the rest of the way.

Nichols put distance between the two teams as time wore down, knocking down two free throws, a layup, and a pair of three point shots for an 86-68 lead with 2:55 left.  

Inside the Paint

• The Colonials were the only LEC team to sweep the Owls a season ago, but the Owls improved to 28-18 all-time against WCSU, including 11 wins in 20 tries in Danbury.
• Keene State dominated the rebounding, with a massive 55-37 edge on the boards, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second chance points.  KSC also shot 47.8% from the field (33-for-69) and 70% (21-for-30) from the foul line.  
• Edwards, the team's leading free throw shooter, continued to shoot well from the line, making nine of 12 shots from the charity stripe.
• Western Conn. State came into the game leading the LEC at over 87 points per game, but were held to their lowest point total of the season.  The Owls became the sixth different team to hang 90 points on the Colonials.  WCSU has lost two straight following a four game win streak.

Up Next

• Keene State continues with the second of three straight road games at Rhode Island College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
• Western Conn. State hosts Plymouth State on the same day.