MBB: #9 Keene State uses three-ball to oust Panthers

KEENE, N.H. – Senior Kyler Bosse (Manchester, N.H.) scored a team-high 17 points and classmate Rylan Canabano (Concord, N.H.) chipped in nine points in the second half, but #9 Keene State College buried 11 three-pointers to top Plymouth State University, 85-53, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's basketball game at Spaulding Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

After the teams traded baskets to open the game, Keene State got to the rim for a 6-0 run and the Owls would lead throughout. Bosse scored six straight points to cut the deficit to 17-15 with eight minutes left in the opening half, but the hosts responded with three triples as part of a 23-9 surge to take control.

Canabano was a spark early in the second half, going 3-for-4 from the floor and the free throw line to score nine points in less than nine minutes, but Keene State used the deep ball to extend the margin and secure the win.

Plymouth State dips to 5-14 (1-9 LEC), while Keene State, ranked #9 in this week's D3hoops.com national poll, improves to 16-2 (10-0 LEC).

The Basics:

• Plymouth State 53, #9 Keene State 85
  • Plymouth State (5-14, 1-9 LEC)
  • Keene State (16-2, 10-0 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Kyler Bosse (17 pts, 4 reb)
• Rylan Canabano (9 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast)
• Kevin Newton-Delgado (6 pts, 12 reb, 1 blk)

How it Happened:

• The Owls got to the rim to take an early 8-2 lead just over three minutes into the game.
• Plymouth State rallied back as Bosse scored six straight points to pull within 17-15 with 8:15 left in the first half.
• Keene State answered with an 8-0 spurt, with six of the points coming from the charity stripe, to pull out to a 29-17 advantage with five minutes remaining.
• Graduate student Giorgi Tsiklauri (Brooklyn, N.Y.) hit from downtown, but the Owls sandwiched three shots from beyond the arc around buckets from junior Kevin Newton-Delgado (Hopkinton, N.H.) and freshman Jayden Montgomery (Nashua, N.H.) as the hosts took a 40-24 lead into halftime.
• KSC continued to connect from distance, using back-to-back triples to extend the margin to 55-33 at the five-minute mark.
• Canabano heated up, getting to the basket and hitting from the free throw line for nine points, but Keene State continued to answer at the other end to push the margin to 73-44 with five minutes to play.
• The Panthers were unable to rally as Keene State stayed unbeaten in league play.

By the Numbers:

• Canabano's nine points matched his season high, while Newton-Delgado's 12 boards were a season best.
• PSU went 19-of-65 from the field (29.2%), while the Owls knocked down 11 three-pointers.
• Keene State held a narrow 41-38 edge on the boards. PSU owned a 13-12 edge on the offensive glass.
• The Panthers' bench outscored its counterparts by a 25-22 margin.
• Points in the paint went to Keene State, 32-30.

Up Next:

• PSU returns home for a clash with UMass Dartmouth on Saturday (Jan. 27). Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.

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