News Release

Keene, NH — David Sontag (Mont Vernon, N.H.) scored 22 points, including four three-pointers, and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Keene State College men’s basketball team to a 80-67 Little East Conference win over UMass-Dartmouth at Spualding Gym on Saturday.

With the win, KSC (13-5, 7-2 LEC) remains tied for the top spot in the LEC with UMass-Boston, which defeated Western Connecticut (92-89) on Saturday. UMass-Dartmouth drops to 11-8 (4-5 LEC).

Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.), who hit 10-of-11 free throws, came off the bench to score 16 points. Sean Sullivan (Athol, Mass.) finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for KSC.

Keene State didn’t pull away from the Corsairs until late in the second half. After a three-pointer by Devon Maiorano (Rehoboth, Mass.) made it 67-63, Sontag help engineer a 10-3 run by the Owls. Sontag hit a three-pointer off a turnover and then fed Matt Hickey (Mahopac, N.Y.) on a back door pass to put KSC up 74-63 with 2:01 to play.

KSC Coach Rob Colbert was proud of his team’s defensive stand late in the game. “We dug in a little bit and ended some possessions,” he said. Under that situation, it was very tough, chippy game for us to keep our heads, I was proud of how we responded.”

Keene State jumped out to an early 19-5 first half lead with Sontag, who finished with 14 first half points, hitting 3 three-points during the stretch. The Owls, who led by as many as 16 points (35-19) in the first half , saw their lead cut to six points (39-33) on consecutive three-pointers and a pair of free throws by Stephane Abelard (Brocton, Mass.) with 1:47 to play in the first half . KSC scored the last six points of the half to take a 45-33 lead.

Aberlard finished with 22 points, Reece Freeman (Cambridge, Mass.) had 13 points, and Dan Holbrook (Lexington, Mass.) added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Corsairs.

Keene State, which edged UMD 83-82 earlier this season in North Dartmouth, swept the season series against the Corsairs.

Keene State hosts Mitchell College in a non-conference game on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.).