PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jordan Cooper poured in a game-high 29 points and the Keene State College men's basketball team limited Rhode Island College to just 36 percent shooting from the field, but neither were enough as the Owls shot only 34 percent themselves, 6-for-29 from three, and 9-for-17 at the free throw line on their way to a 72-63 loss to Rhode Island College in Little East Conference action at The Murray Center on Saturday afternoon.

It is the first time KSC (6-8, 3-3 LEC) has lost back-to-back games to the Anchormen (8-6, 4-2 LEC) since 2015, and they remain unable to string consecutive wins together this season, having alternated wins and losses since a November 30 three point home defeat to then-No. 22 Tufts University.

Playing their third league game of the week and second on the road, the Owls could not find their shooting touch, making only 24-of-70 from the field – their second-lowest percentage of the season (the other was Tuesday's 33 percent mark in a 78-76 loss at Plymouth State University).

Keene State raced out to an 8-2 lead in just 3:06 to start the game, but RIC answered with seven straight and the Owls scored just 19 points over the final 16 minutes of the half.  The Owls clamped down the Anchormen though, limiting the home team to an 8-for-27 effort from the floor (29.6 percent) in the opening 20 minutes as it was tied 27-27 at the break.  But missed free throws also prevented KSC from carrying a lead into the locker room, as they went only 5-for-12 while RIC was 10-for-13. 

Rhode Island College scored the first five points of the second half on their first two possessions in the first minute, but the Owls reclaimed a 35-33 advantage with 15:22 to go on Cooper's layup.  Two free throws by Noe Bom gave the Anchormen a five-point lead back (46-41) with 10:24 left, but threes by Cooper and Allyn Wright before a jumper in the paint by Cooper helped KSC reel off an 8-3 run to make it 49-49 with 7:58 remaining.  It was ultimately Rhode Island College's next run – an 11-2 burst that began with two more Bom free throws – that proved to be too much for the Owls to overcome.  Jefferson Smock scored inside with 6:55 to go to keep the Owls within four (55-51), but Loudon Chupas drained a triple on the next Anchormen possession and Xavier Mendez's steal and layup gave the home team their largest lead with 5:35 left.  Blakey and Chaikin scored on consecutive trips to trim the nine-point deficit to five, but Chupas made another three on the ensuing trip to make it 63-55.  Smock scored inside again to keep it a two-possession game, but Tyriek Weeks continued RIC's sudden three-point accuracy by making another with 2:40 left to put the Anchormen up nine again.  A three-point play by Chaikin with 2:23 to go kept KSC within 66-60 and the visitors had one more chance in the final minute after Cooper made a triple and Chupas missed two free throws, giving the Owls the ball down five with 50 seconds to go, but Cooper misfired on a three and KSC turned the ball over after grabbing the offensive rebound.  RIC made all four of their free throws in the final 28 seconds to salt away a win, rebounding from being decimated 91-68 at Western Connecticut State University on Thursday night.

The new year has not been kind to KSC's offense thus far, as the Owls have shot under 40 percent in three of their four games in 2026, going 1-2 in those contests.  Keene State was coming off a 45.6 percent shooting effort from the floor in Thursday's 79-72 home win over Eastern Connecticut State University.

"It was a tough result today," said Owls head coach Steven Enright.  "Unfortunately we could not find balance offensively and had some crucial second half defensive breakdowns.  RIC bothered us with their ball screen coverages and took us out of rhythm.  On to Western Connecticut."

Rhode Island College finished 26-of-34 (76.5 percent) at the free throw line, outscoring KSC by 17 at the charity stripe.

The Owls and Wolves will tip-off in Danbury on Wednesday (January 14) at 4:00 p.m.  Surging WestConn has won eight straight including a 98-86 road win over the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth today.  Earlier in the week, they blew out the University of Massachusetts-Boston 98-70 on the road and RIC by 23 at home.  KSC and the Wolves have met in each of the last three Little East tournament championship games, all at Spaulding Gymnasium and all won by the Owls as part of their record four straight league tournament titles.