GORHAM, Maine – Freshman
Octavio Brito made 6-of-8 from long range – 4-of-5 in the second half – while scoring a game-high 23 points as the Keene State College men's basketball team shook out of an offensive slumber with a hot-shooting final 20 minutes in an eventual 75-59 blowout win over the University of Southern Maine in Little East Conference action Saturday afternoon at Hill Gymnasium.
Records
- Keene State: 12-2, 7-0 LEC
- Southern Maine: 6-8, 1-4 LEC
How It Happened
The usually high-flying Owl offense hit a speed bump in Wednesday night's victory at Castleton University when they shot a season-low 37 percent, including 33 percent in the second half when they scored only 29 points. Hoping for a bounce back showing today to cap off an unbeaten week on the road, they did get it eventually, even if it took more time than desired. After an uneven first half where KSC shot 35 percent and turned the ball over 14 times, they came to life in a big way in the final 20 minutes, shooting 54 percent (15-for-28) as a team that included a 10-for-19 (53 percent) showing from deep. Brito scored 15 points in his 10 second half minutes, connecting on 4-of-5 from three-point range and 3-of-4 at the foul line, as he continued his thoroughly impressive rookie campaign. The Lincoln, R.I. native now has 77 points over his last four games following the Owls' 35-day break, an average of 19.3 points per game on 25-for-44 (57 percent) shooting. Keene State also got eight points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3-PT) from
Max Bonney-Liles after halftime, who is now six for his last 13 from three, and six from
Nate Siow, who helped turn a 24-16 halftime edge into a rout. Triples from
Mason Jean Baptiste and Brito a little over a minute into the second half sparked a 9-2 burst that took only 55 seconds, putting the Owls up 33-18 with 17:54 to go, and gave a preview of the KSC offense for the remainder of the day. USM never got closer than 10 after that, and as soon as they did get within 41-31 on Simon Chadbourne's three with 13 minutes to go, were undone by Brito's avalanche, as he connected three times from distance and Bonney-Liles once as KSC used a 14-4 sprint in 3:16 to balloon their lead to 20 (55-35). The Owls looked much more like themselves in that span, eventually building their advantage to 64-39 with 5:02 left on a triple from
James Anozie – the first of the Owl big man's 102-game career. Free throws a minute later by
Justin Williams had KSC up 68-43. From the time Southern Maine drew within 10 to the Owls' initial game-high 25-point lead, Brito poured in 12 points. Keene State outscored the home team 23-11 in that span, making 7-for-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range (USM 5-15/1-5). They finished 13-for-30 (43 percent) from deep on the game following a dismal 3-for-12 start, matching the season-high they set earlier this week at Western Connecticut State University (13-36). It was KSC's most efficient game from three since an 86-62 win at Plymouth State University on December 8 (10-23).
The game, which was a rematch of an earlier 101-53 win for the Owls, looked as if it was following the exact same script as the one from December 4 early on. Behind eight points from Brito and a 7-for-15 showing from the field, KSC opened up a 17-point lead with 5:02 left in the first half (21-4), holding Southern Maine to a miserable four points on 2-for-13 shooting (0-7 from three) over the game's first 15 minutes. The Owls used their defense to not only shut down any semblance of offense for USM (13 turnovers), but also to prevent 10 miscues of their own in that stretch from doing much damage on the scoreboard. KSC led 24-8 with 3:40 left on the clock in the opening 20, but gave the Huskies what turned out to be short-lived life as they closed on an 8-0 push to remarkably be within eight points (24-16) at halftime despite making only eight two-point baskets and nothing else. Juneau Anicette and Jason Lombard each scored four as Southern Maine went 4-of-6 from the floor in that span. KSC missed their last four shots and committed three turnovers over the final 3:21. USM's hot stretch was put to a quick end out of the locker room, as the Owls expanded their edge to 15 just 3:45 into the second half on Siow's triple. Brito took care of the rest.
Brito's 23 points were five shy of his career-high set last Saturday. Siow finished with nine points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3-PT) and two steals, while Bonney-Liles had eight points (3-5 FG, 2-3 3-PT), two rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Anozie (seven points, four assists) and
Jeric Cichon (six points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals) combined for nine helpers in the game.
Anicette led Southern Maine with 12 points (6-13 FG), three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in his second game with the team. Cody Hawes added 11 points (4-6 FG, 2-4 3-PT), six rebounds, and six steals.
Inside the Paint
- Keene State has won seven of nine on the road this season with their two losses coming by nine points total.
- The Owls have won 42 of 51 against USM overall, but were just 1-4 entering today in their last five games in Gorham after winning 14 of the first 18.
- Brito is now a team-best 30-for-63 (48 percent) from three-point range this season.
Up Next
- The games continue to come fast and furious for KSC, who opens an important four-game homestand against Eastern Connecticut State University (11-5, 6-2 LEC) on Monday (January 24) at 7:00 p.m. The Warriors had a five-game winning streak snapped today as the University of Massachusetts-Boston erased a 12-point second half deficit with a 33-13 run in the final 12:15 of a 62-54 victory.
- Southern Maine visits Plymouth State (7-7, 2-3 LEC) on the same day at 7:30 p.m.
