BOSTON, Mass. – Led by a game-high 23 points from Ty Nichols Keene State College managed to get past men's basketball by the final of 85-80 in overtime in a Little East Conference contest Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 80, Keene State College 85 (OT)

UMass Boston (10-9, 3-6 Little East Conference)
Keene State College (14-5, 7-2 Little East Conference)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing by one with 40 seconds left on the clock following a Matt Ozzella lay-up, the Beacons failed to convert on a 3-pointer on their next possession.  However, the Beacons would draw a foul sending senior Sam Freeman (Boston, Mass.) to the line for a crucial two shot opportunity.  The senior would miss the first but drain the second to even the score at 70-70 with 17 ticks left.

Keene State inbounded the ball and took it the length of the court, and what would have been the game-winner hit off the front of the iron just as the horn sounded sending Saturday's contest into OT.

The first basket of the overtime period did not come until 45 seconds in, when Ozzella went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe.  Nichols would then made it a two-possession game on a huge 3-pointer with 3:41 to go. 

Freeman than made it a two point affair after going 2-for-2 at the line, but that was quickly countered by a Lucas Hammel lay-up to make it 76-72 with 2:55 to play.  Nichols would then make it a four point game on a lay-up.  The Beacons would try to cut into the Owls lead but the closest they would come would be three points with 1:08 left on a Dan Powers (Westwood, Mass.) jumper.  Hammel and Jeff Lunn sealed the win for the Owls as they scored the team's final four points.  Alex Sanchez (Salem, Mass.) scored the final basket of the night with just two seconds left as the Beacons fell just short in the five-point loss.

On the night Nichols finished 8-for-13 from the field, which included one 3-pointer, and a 6-for-6 showing at the line.  He also handed out a game-high seven assists, and picked-up four steals.  The duo of Jaquel Edwards and Dizel Wright combined for 29 points and 14 boards respectively, while Hammel finished with 12 points in the conference win. 

For the Beacons it was the senior duo of Powers and Freeman who led the team on both sides of the hardwood.  Powers collected a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Freeman finished with 22 points and 11 boards.  Ty Lee (Boston, Mass.) and Careem Kirksey (Dorchester, Mass.) each dropped in 10 points, with less also matching the game high in assists with seven.

BY THE NUMBERS

• On the night the Beacons shot 43.9% from the field, while the Owls finished shooting 46.2% overall
• At the line the Owls finished 22-for-35, while the Beacons went 17-for-28
• The Beacons held a 45-36 advantage on the glass, with 16 of the boards coming on the offensive side of the court
• In total there were nine lead changes in Saturday's contest
• Both teams were evenly matched in the paint, with the Owls holding a slim 42-39 advantage
• Keene State did take advantage of the Beacons 24 turnovers, which they converted into 33 points

WHO'S NEXT

The Beacons will host Pine Manor College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.