VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Keene State College men's basketball team got within nine six times in the second half after a very slow start in the first, but nationally-No. 17 ranked Hampden-Sydney College used a 12-1 burst in the final four minutes to quickly prevent any Owl comeback and post a 79-61 win at the consolation game of the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University at the TowneBank Arena.

KSC (0-2) struggled offensively, shooting just 37 percent from the field overall and 8-of-27 from three.  They also went just 7-for-13 at the foul line and were outrebounded 46-32 one day after beating VWU by 11 on the boards in an 87-84 defeat.

Shane Fernald paced the Tigers (1-1), who lost in overtime to No. 7 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse by two yesterday, with 18 points – going 10-of-12 at the foul line – eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.  Santana Lynch added 17 points (7-11 FG, 3-9 FT), 11 boards, and two assists as four of Hampden-Sydney's starters reached double-figures.  The Tigers also shot 51 percent from the field, which was effective enough despite only a 2-for-12 mark from three and 17-of-30 from the foul line.

The Owls were put into a deep hole early, as the Tigers ran out to a 9-1 lead in only 2:26 and led 13-1 at the 15:38 mark of the opening half.  One of Isaac Ogutuga's three triples (3-for-3) made it 17-9 less than two minutes later, but KSC surrendered another 9-2 HSC burst and found themselves down 26-11 with 10:29 left until halftime.  The lead grew as high as 16 (39-23) with 2:08 to go until the Owls scored the final six, four by Joshua Williams, to get within 10 at the break.  Williams and Ogutuga were major factors off the bench, combining for 25 of KSC's 61 points on 10-of-14 shooting.  The duo combined to go 5-for-9 from three and the rest of the team was 3-for-18.

Keene State drew within double-digits in the second half for the first time with 11:06 left when Kareem Porter Jr.'s layup made it 52-43 to finish a small 7-2 run.  The Tigers pushed the lead back to 14 over the next three minutes, but a triple by Williams and layup by Leo Chaikin made it 59-50 with 7:26 left.  But the Owls could never inch any closer, allowing a basket on Hampden-Sydney's next possession each of the next two times they got within nine.  Jordan Cooper, coming off a 30-point effort in his KSC debut, finished inside with 6:20 remaining to make it 63-54 and was fouled, but could not make the free throw and Fernald then scored on the other end.  Porter and Williams scored on consecutive trips again to make it 67-58 with 4:03 to go, but Travis Stickney – another of the HSC starters in double-digits – buried a dagger triple on the other end and, after a KSC miss, Alex Cannon's slam pushed the Tiger lead to 14 again and the Owls' comeback hopes were dashed.
Williams (6-13 FG, 2-6 3-PT) led the way for KSC with 14 points, three steals, two rebounds and two steals while Cooper had 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.  Ogutuga added 11 (4-4 FG, 3-3 3-PT).

The Owls were outscored 54-26 in the paint and were whistled for 25 fouls to the Tigers' 13.

"Obviously not how we wanted to perform this weekend, but if we use this correctly it will pay dividends down the road," said KSC head coach Steve Enright.  "We scheduled the way we scheduled for a reason – beginning the season on the road against two nationally-ranked opponents, we wanted to challenge our team early and learn where we are deficient.  It will be a step-by-step and game-by-game process, but I am highly confident this team can reach its potential.  We need to do a better job executing defensive game plans and I believe we will improve in that area going forward.  On to Western New England."

The two teams the Owls played this weekend are both from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and have deep tradition, with Hampden-Sydney having made 17 NCAA tournament appearances and twice finishing as national runner-up, including two years ago when they fell to Trine University.  Virginia Wesleyan has made March Madness 16 times, winning a national championship in 2006 and reaching the title game again the next year before falling to Amherst College.

KSC will have the workweek to practice before their home opener at Spaulding Gymnasium next Saturday at noon against Western New England University.  Tickets are available online at keeneowls.com.  Any in-person purchases can also only be made with a credit card.