SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Mason Jean Baptiste and Spencer Aronson combined to make 8-of-19 from three-point range and were two of three Owls in double-figures as the nationally preseason No. 10-ranked Keene State College men's basketball team made key plays down the stretch to pick up a season-opening 83-78 win over Western New England on Saturday at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

The Owls never trailed in the opening half and opened as big as a 13-point lead (24-11) early, and then pushed a seven-point halftime lead back out to 56-45 with 14:15 left, but they would ultimately have to erase a five-point deficit in the final 8:26 to emerge.  A three by Aronson trimmed the Golden Bears' lead to one (67-66) with 6:21 left, and KSC retook the lead on Leo Chaikin's jumper a minute later.

In the final four minutes, sophomore Flagler College (Division II) transfer Joshua Williams made several big plays.  First, he gave the Owls the lead once more with a jumper that made it 73-71 with 3:25 to go, and a minute later made what was likely the biggest shot of the game – a trey to push KSC's lead back out to seven (78-71) again.  Four points in a row by Tim Restall, who had 37 on 16-of-23 shooting, made it a one-possession game again (78-75) with 1:43 remaining, but the Owls made their free throws down the stretch and in the game (27-for-32) in general.  Aronson made a pair to make it 81-75 with 36 seconds on the clock and, after Cody Palazzesi made a triple to keep the Golden Bears with a chance, Williams made both of his free throws to make it a two-possession game once more with 16 ticks left.  Western New England missed a three on their ensuing possession and Keene State dribbled out their first win under new head coach Steven Enright.

It was a game that featured many box score oddities, the first of which being that Western New England shot nearly 52 percent and KSC 34 percent from the field.  However, the Owls outscored the hosts 36-9 from three-point range and by 14 at the foul line to negate a minus-17 mark in the rebounding category.  Preseason All-American Octavio Brito also fouled out in 20 minutes, scoring four points on 2-of-10 shooting.  But thanks to a 4-for-9 mark from three for Jean Baptiste and a 4-for-10 showing by Aronson, with both combining to go 10-for-10 at the foul line, the Owls overcame.

"Credit to our guys stepping up and facing adversity," said Enright.  "Only having three turnovers really gives you a chance to win.  And I thought Josh Williams especially made some big plays off the bench in late-game situations.  Certainly interior defense and defensive rebounding is something we really need to address.  We struggled with foul trouble and ended up having to play some different lineups.  A lot to improve this week in practice before we are out there against Thomas next Saturday."

KSC has won five of the seven all-time meetings against Western New England, including a season-opening 105-69 rout last November 11.

The Owls and Terriers (2-2) will tip-off at the Williams College Purple and Gold Classic on Saturday (November 23) at 5:00 p.m.