PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Ty Nichols and Edwin Ezedonmwen combined for 58 points on 22-of-33 shooting from the field as the Keene State College men's basketball team ran away from Plymouth State University 93-67 in Little East Conference action Tuesday night at Foley Gymnasium.

Records

• Keene State:  7-6, 3-2 LEC
• Plymouth State:  8-5, 4-2 LEC

How It Happened

Nichols led the Owls with a 36 point performance that fell six shy of matching his career-high from earlier this season at Albertus Magnus.  He shot 14-of-19 from the field while adding eight rebounds and six steals.  Ezedonmwen had a career-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from long range, while James Anozie chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.  Manny Alisandro had 25 points and nine rebounds for Plymouth.

Keene State led wire-to-wire, including 10-5 in the early going after a layup from Ezedonmwen and a dunk from Anozie.  The Panthers got back within three on the next possession, but the Owls then embarked on a 9-0 burst, finishing with five points from Nichols and a layup from Paul Mahon for a 19-7 lead at the 15:37 mark.  It was still 23-11 KSC a few minutes later, but Plymouth hit back with seven straight points to make it a five-point game, and later got within 25-22 after a three-point play from Alisandro nearly midway through the half.  Keene State responded quickly, as Ezedonmwen canned a layup and a three on consecutive trips before Nichols hit a triple of his own to make it 35-22 at the 6:32 mark.  After PSU scored 11 of the next 13 points to get back within four as the half wound down, Nichols answered with five points in the final minute as KSC led 45-36 at halftime.

The Owls took control to start the second half, as layups from Ezedonmwen and Anozie opened the scoring to put Keene State up 49-36, and the Panthers never got within single-digits again.  Leading 49-39 with 16:35 to go, KSC went on a quick 6-0 run to go up 16, but Plymouth did get back within 10 on Joe Simpson's three with a little less than 14 minutes to go.  However, hot-shooting Keene State was never slowed, as a trey from Ezedonmwen made it 64-49, and later a jumper by Nichols made it 68-54 with 9:40 left.  Ahead by 10 with about seven minutes remaining, the Owls finished the game on an extended 23-7 burst to win going away.  Ezedonmwen had a layup and two free throws on consecutive possessions to make it 81-63 at the 2:15 mark before Nichols, Jeric Cichon, and Kyle Santoro all made treys in the final two minutes to make it 90-65.  KSC topped their 59% shooting performance in the first half with a 61% (17-of-28) showing after halftime.

Inside the Paint

• Nichols now has 1,890 career points and needs 81 more to pass Chris Coates '01 for second on Keene State's all-time scoring list.  He is averaging 26.3 points per game this season.
• Ezedonmwen's four threes were also a career-best, and he is now 9-of-22 from long range in the last three games while scoring in double-figures each time.
• The Owls shot a sizzling 60% (36-of-60) from the field, easily a season-high, and made 10-of-22 (46%) threes.  Plymouth shot 42% overall (22-of-53) and 5-of-22 (23%) from distance.
• KSC has won 14 of their last 18 against PSU.

Up Next

• Keene State returns to Spaulding Gymnasium for a conference matchup with Castleton University on Thursday, January 10 at 7:30 pm.  Donations to The Hungry Owl will be accepted in lieu of admission to the game.
• Plymouth State visits LEC foe UMass Boston on the same evening for a 7:30 pm tip-off.