In Second Rollercoaster Battle in Three Days, KSC Holds On To Reach League Final For Sixth Time in Past Seven Years

KEENE, N.H. – Senior James Anozie scored 16 points, including what proved to be the two game-deciding free throws with 22.3 seconds left, as the Keene State College men's basketball team staved off Eastern Connecticut State University in yet another close battle between the teams to advance to the Little East championship for the sixth time in seven years with an 80-79 win Friday night at Spaulding Gymnasium.

Records

• Keene State:  6-2
• Eastern Connecticut:  5-4

How It Happened
After playing a game in Willimantic, Conn. two nights ago that saw 20 ties and 16 lead changes, the script did not change much this evening, as two teams that have played each other five times in the conference tournament – three in the championship – since 2015 saw the lead change hands 20 times before the Owls found themselves in front last thanks to Anozie, who scored 12 of his 16 points after halftime.  He made 4-of-6 from the floor and 8-of-12 at the foul line, including going 2-for-2 at a most critical time to take his team from down one to up one.  KSC got another very efficient game from freshman Mason Jean Baptiste, who scored 16 points and made seven of his 10 shots and 2-of-4 from three-point land.  Jeff Hunter had his seventh double-double in eight games this season, finishing with 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Owls, who have won six of the last eight over the Warriors in Keene.  It was the 11th meeting between KSC and ECSU in the conference tournament.  Three of the encounters have been decided by one point, one by two points, one by three points, one by five points (in double overtime), and one by six points.  The Owls have won six of the 11, including four of the past six.  So, in other words, despite the most unusual circumstances for several reasons and a conference tournament winner that will not have a chance to take part in the NCAA tournament after its cancellation, the game was much the same as one has seen in recent years between the two teams.
 
Keene State scored the game's first four points and despite Eastern scoring the next five and eventually leading 13-10, the Owls rattled off seven in a row for a four-point edge on Jeric Cichon's three about eight minutes in.  Jean Baptiste connected from distance at the 11:07 mark to put the Owls in front by five, but it was all Warriors over the next five minutes, as a 15-5 burst gave the visitors a game-high 30-25 edge after a jumper by Tyreice Woods and layup by Cory Muckle.  Back came Keene State in a big way, as they scored 14 consecutive points in 3:18 of game time to roar out in front 39-30, culminating with Jordan Santos' electric jam off a perfect alley-oop pass by Cichon.  The Warriors stayed in it by getting a triple from Jaylin Palmer in the final 30 seconds of the half to trail 41-35 heading into the break.  Jean Baptiste had 12 of his points in the first half while making 5-of-8 shots.
 
Anozie scored on a put-back 15 seconds into the second half to push the Owl advantage to eight, but that proved to be as much of a cushion as KSC could enjoy the rest of the evening, as back came Eastern with seven straight points in barely over two minutes to get within 43-42.  A triple by Cade Ensinger at the 14:02 mark gave the Warriors their first lead of the half, and the visitors later pushed their advantage out to four (57-53) following a triple by Woods, who was a force in the second half with 17 points (6-10 FG, 3-6 3-PT) and finished with 21 in the game, with 11:58 to go.  Hunter responded with a layup and free throw after being fouled, and that helped spark a brief Owl spurt, as four more points for him and a coast-to-coast lay-in by DeVon Beasley put the home team in front 64-59 with nine minutes remaining.  KSC maintained the advantage for nearly six minutes – and actually led for 27 of the 40 minutes in the game despite the game being played in a 14-point window – but consecutive triples by Woods tied the game and then put ECSU up 75-74 with 2:54 to go.  Cichon's field goal that put the Owls back up one 20 seconds later wound up being the final make from the floor in the game, as the rest of the scoring came from the line.  Woods sank a pair from there with 46 seconds on the clock to nudge the Warriors back in front 79-78, but Anozie was fouled by Edwards on the ensuing possession and sank both key shots.  Looking for the win and electing to play it out without calling a timeout, Woods missed for just the second time all half on Eastern's next trip as Cichon forced him into a tough runner, and Hunter grabbed his 16th board of the game before being fouled.  He was unable to make either free throw with 3.4 to go, but KSC survived and advanced after Woods could not connect on a last-second three while falling away following a nice lead pass that got him a better look than anticipated.

Quinton Lott finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for ECSU.  Muckle had 14 points and nine boards.

Inside the Paint

• KSC outscored the Warriors 16-9 on second chances despite being slightly outrebounded 44-41 and had a wide 44-28 advantage in paint points.
• Entering the game, the teams had split the regular season series in each of the last three years, 58 meetings since 1997, and their 10 all-time conference tournament clashes.  On a smaller scale, the Owls have now won five of the past seven overall.

Up Next

• The win moves the Owls on to the Little East championship, where they will take on either UMass-Dartmouth (on the road) or Rhode Island College (home) next Thursday at 6:00 p.m.  The semifinal between the Corsairs and Anchormen this evening was postponed and rescheduled for Monday (March 1) at 6:00 p.m. in North Dartmouth, Mass.  KSC will be aiming for their fifth league title, having won in 2004, 2015, 2016, and 2019.