KEENE, N.H.--Senior Lucas Hammel converted a three point play with 1:22 remaining to give Keene State the lead for good, as the Owls edged Becker College 84-81 in non-conference action on Thursday night at Spaulding Gym.

Records

• Keene State: 8-4
• Becker: 6-5

Quotables

• "We've been coming out hot, then letting teams back into games, but this is what we've been working on at practice.  My shot's been falling more than it did at the beginning of the season.  We're feeling good and ready for conference play." -- Senior forward Matt Ozzella
• "I thought overall we played good defense today.  The last two minutes I thought we did a good job of getting stops.  We had a tough start where we weren't playing together, but once we got to that point, we were able to play out of it.  The ball started moving and guys started making plays for each other." -- Head Coach Ryan Cain.

How it Happened

Keene State led by 10 (72-62) with 5:24 remaining, but the Hawks went on a 13-3 run over the next three minutes to tie the game, powered by threes from Antonio White, Kyle Credle, and Kareem Davis.  After Jaquel Edwards and White traded layups, knotting the score at 77, Hammel twisted through the lane and his layup hung on the rim for a fraction of a second before falling through.  The senior converted the ensuing free throw for an 80-77 advantage.

Credle and Ty Nichols both made a pair of free throws, and Samuel Durodola sank a pair of foul shots with 15 ticks on the clock to cut the lead to 82-81.  The Hawks immediately sent Jake Collagan to the line, where he made 1-of-2 shots, but on the next Becker possessions, Credle was called for travelling.

Forced to foul again, Collagan was summoned to the line where he made another 1-of-2 shots, and Davis' attempt at the buzzer was way off.

Nichols led six Keene State players in double figures, scoring 19 points with four assists and four steals.  Matt Ozzella had his seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Edwards had 13 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots.  Collagan and Dizel Wright both had 11 points, and Hammel finished with 10 points.

Durodola led all players with 21 points and added 11 rebounds, while White and Credle both had 15 points.  Davis, who came in averaging 19.1 points, managed just 12 on 4-for-10 shooting from the field.

The Hawks had opened up a 21-13 lead in the first half, but Keene State chipped away, getting within 23-20 on Damonte Turner's layup, and Wright connected on a three that cut it to 31-28.  Back-to-back buckets by Ozzella got the Owls within two (34-32), and Nichols swished a three with 2:24 left in the half for a 39-36 KSC lead.  Nichols' layup with 53 seconds left in the half gave KSC a 43-41 lead at halftime.

Keene State scored the first eight points of the second half to open up a 51-41 lead on Ozzella's three pointer, and led by as many as 12 before the Hawks came back to tie the game.

In The Paint

 It was the first ever meeting between the two schools.

• Keene State outrebounded the Hawks 35-32, and forced 22 turnovers.  The Owls also had four players notch at least 30 minutes on the night, and Jake Collagan made his first career start.  
• The three point margin was the closest in a win for the Owls this season.  

 Up Next

• Keene State resumes Little East Conference play when the Owls host the University of Southern Maine on January 7 at 3 p.m.
• Becker travels to Elms College for a New England Collegiate Conference game on January 10.