KSC, which has captured the previous four invitational titles, advances to the championship game on Saturday (7 p.m.) where they will face Salve Regina University.
Junior forward Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) led a balanced KSC offense with 22 points and nine rebounds. David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) had a fine overall game with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Harley Davis (Newburyport, Mass.) and Ben Maynard Nobleboro, Me.) added 12 points each.
Rashad Cope (Roxbury, Mass.) led FSC with 13 points and eight rebounds while James Prignano (West Hartford, Conn.) and Brian Torres (N. Dighton, Mass.) finished with 12 points each.
The Owls opened up a 17 point lead (37-20) on a three-pointer by Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) with 7:52 to play in the half. Fitchburg cut KSC’s lead to six points (44-38) on a three-pointer by Prignano at the 2:42 mark. The Owls regrouped to take a 52-41 halftime lead.
Keene State began the second half with a 15-6 run to push its lead back up to 20 points (67-47) on a three-pointer by Sontag. The Falcons cut the lead down to 14 points (72-58) with 12:58 remaining, but got no closer.
Earlier, Salve Regina University posted a 68-58 victory over the University of Maine-Machias in an opening round game of the Invitational.
Matt Coute (Somerset, Mass.) led the Seahawks with 18 points. Chris Collier (Exeter, N.H.) finished with 14 points and Andrew Rego (Little Compton, R.I.) added 12 points. Chris Goodridge (Merrimack, N.H.) had a team-high nine rebounds.
Nedrie Simmons (Toronto, Ont.) had 14 points and Phil Munro (Toronto, Ont.) finished with 10 rebounds for the Clippers.
Leading 25-24 at halftime, the Seahawks used an 18-3 run midway in the second half to take a commanding 15 point (51-36) lead on a reverse layup by Matt Grendal (Foxboro, Mass.).
Maine-Machias (8-3) will face Fitchburg State (0-1) in the tournament consolation game on Saturday (5 p.m.).
Release courtsey of Keene State Sports Information
Newspaper Box Score Fitchburg State vs Keene State 11/19/04 9:15 pm. at Keene, NH At Keene, NH KEENE STATE 99, FITCHBURG STATE 81 FITCHBURG STATE (0-1) Rashad Cope 6-11 1-5 13; Brian Torres 5-11 0-1 12; James Prignano 5-11 0-0 12; Jocelyn Velney 4-6 0-1 10; Nick Smith 3-9 2-2 8; Adam DiZuzio 2-5 3-4 7; Dan Largesse 1-5 3-4 5; Brian Skiffington 1-2 3-4 5; Dan Koen 1-2 1-2 4; Mark Giusto 1-1 0-0 2; Peter Uzoma 0-3 2-2 2; Morlu Marvie 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 29-66 16-27 81. KEENE STATE (1-0) Sean Sullivan 6-14 8-8 22; David Sontag 4-8 4-5 14; Ben Maynard 4-4 4-5 12; Harley Davis 5-6 2-3 12; Joe Shaw 2-7 5-6 11; Anthony Licitra 3-8 1-2 9; Nick Wickles 1-3 2-2 5; Erick Schlacter 2-3 0-0 5; Matt Hickey 1-3 0-0 3; Nick Drouin 0-0 2-2 2; Ken McCalmon 1-2 0-0 2; Adam Gervais 1-4 0-0 2; Sandel White 0-3 0-0 0; Kevin Ritter 0-1 0-0 0; Matt Craig 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 28-33 99. Fitchburg State............... 41 40 - 81 Keene State................... 52 47 - 99 3-point goals-Fitchburg State 7-18 (James Prignano 2-5; Jocelyn Velney 2-3; Brian Torres 2-5; Dan Koen 1-1; Brian kiffington 0-1; Dan Largesse 0-3), Keene State 11-26 (Sean Sullivan 2-3; Joe Shaw 2-5; Anthony Licitra 2-4; David Sontag 2-5; Matt Hickey 1-2; Erick Schlacter 1-2; Nick Wickles 1-3; Kevin Ritter 0-1; Adam Gervais 0-1). Fouled out--Fitchburg State-Dan Largesse, Keene State-Erick Schlacter. Rebounds-Fitchburg State 38 (Rashad Cope 8), Keene State 44 (Sean Sullivan 9). Assists-Fitchburg State 14 (Nick Smith 3), Keene State 16 (David Sontag 7). Total fouls-Fitchburg State 28, Keene State 26. A-800