BOSTON, Mass. - James Anozie had a 19 point, 10 rebound double-double as the Keene State College men's basketball team picked up their fourth straight win with a 77-62 triumph over UMass Boston in a Wednesday night Little East contest at the Clark Athletic Center.

Records

• Keene State:  12-7, 7-3 LEC
• UMass Boston:  9-9, 4-6 LEC

How It Happened

Anozie recorded his fourth double-double of the season while adding two steals, two blocks and an assist.  Ty Nichols poured in a game-high 23 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds and a steal.  He made 10-of-18 from the field and has shot 50% or better in five of the last seven games.  Miguel Prieto rounded out the double-figure scorers, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Owls, who won for the sixth time in the last seven games.  Charlie Mitchell had 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals to lead UMass Boston.

It was back and forth early on, as consecutive layups from Nichols and Anozie put Keene State up 5-4, only to see the home team go on a 7-2 run for an 11-7 advantage a little less than six minutes in.  The Owls quickly answered, as they retook the lead (13-11) on Nichols' jumper at the 12:47 mark and extended it to 18-12 on Kyle Santoro's three not even a minute later.  UMB was within three approaching the midway point of the half, but KSC turned on the jets from there, scoring 11 consecutive points finished off by Paul Mahon's three and consecutive Prieto buckets for a 29-15 lead at the 7:55 mark.  Nichols' three-point play with just under four minutes to go made it 36-21, and the advantage grew to as many as 16 two different times late in the half before the Owls settled for a 42-30 lead at the break.  KSC shot 53% (18-of-34) in the opening half while getting 13 points and six rebounds from Anozie and 11 points from Nichols.

Dasan Cinelli's three brought the Beacons within single digits in the first minute of the second half, but it was not long before Keene State pulled away again, as Nichols' layup restored a 49-35 lead with 14:22 to go.  Leading 56-44, the Owls received a triple from Charles McClain and another layup from Nichols while scoring five consecutive points for a 17-point lead and, a few minutes later, a triple from Prieto put KSC up 66-46 with 7:38 remaining.  Layups on the ensuing two possessions from Nyzair Rountree and Anozie made it a 24-point advantage, capping a 14-2 run that all but put the game away.  The Owls had no trouble from there, as Prieto, who is 7-for-15 from three in the last four games, drained another long range try for a 75-53 lead with 4:41 on the clock.  UMass Boston finished the game on a 9-2 run to set the final score.

Inside the Paint

• Keene State has won eight straight against the Beacons, including two this season, and is 17-5 all-time at the Clark Athletic Center.
• The Owls tied a season-high with 15 steals, which they also did on January 8 at Plymouth State University.  Overall, KSC forced 23 UMB turnovers and had a 23-6 edge in points off miscues.
• Anozie finished with 40 points and 20 rebounds in the two game regular season series against UMass Boston.
• Keene State maintains their spot in third place in the Little East standings, trailing first place Eastern Connecticut State University (8-1) by a game and a half and UMass Dartmouth (7-2) by a half-game.

Up Next

• The Owls have a key conference matchup at UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, January 26 at 3:00 pm.  KSC will be looking to avenge an earlier 80-71 home loss to the Corsairs.
• UMass Boston travels to Castleton University on the same day and time.