KSC (6-1) dropped its first game of the season, while Tufts improves to 6-2.
Tied 94-all with 44 seconds remaining, the Jumbos scored two quick points on a lay-in by Brian Fitzgerald (Bedford, N.H.) to make it 96-94 with 25 seconds left in the game. A KSC turnover and foul by David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.), gave Tufts an opportunity to extend its lead.
Jeremy Black (Jamesville, N.Y.) went to the line and sunk two clutch free-throws to give the Jumbos a 98-94 advantage.
Keene State's Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) closed the gap to within one (98-97) with a three-pointer with just seven seconds remaining, but the Owls would get no closer. Following a KSC foul, Jake Weitzen (New York, N.Y.) converted on two free throws to give the Jumbos a 100-97 lead. The Owls had a last-ditch effort to tie the game on Sontag's three-pointer as time expired, but it was short.
"I was disappointed with our play in the first half," said KSC coach Rob Colbert. "But this was a growing experience for us. Things like this help prepare us for games down the stretch."
David Shepherd (14 points), Fitzgerald (11 points), and Black (10 points) round- out the double figure scorers for Tufts.
Keene State had five players in double figures - Sontag had 25 points, Hickey had 16 points, Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) added 14 points, and Nick Drouin (Weare, N.H.) and Carl Slate (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished with 12 points each.
The Owls took their last lead of the first half (37-36) on a three-pointer by Kevin Ritter (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) at the 5:59 mark. Following a free throw and lay-up by Sullivan, Tufts went on an 11-0 run ending with a three-pointer by Black with 53 seconds remaining to make it 56-40. Martin had 11 first-half points to lead Tufts. The Jumbos shot 58% in the first stanza.
The Jumbos went into the locker room with a 56-42 lead. The Owls battled back in the second half closing the gap to within five (73-68) on consecutive three-pointers by Drouin at the 12:47 mark. Hickey tied it 77-all on a three pointer of his own with just under eight minutes left in the half. KSC took its first lead (83-82) of the second half on a jumper by Sullivan at the 5:04 mark.
The Jumbos would not be denied, gaining a four-point advantage (89-85) on a pair of free throws and two point conversion by Weitzen at the 2:53 mark. KSC took the lead for the final time on Carl Slate's three pointer and two foul shots by Hickey to make it 92-91 with 1:25 remaining.
Keene State will travel to UMass-Dartmouth for an LEC game on Saturday (3 p.m.). Tufts will host Clark University the same day at 2 p.m.