KEENE, N.H. 12/8/2012 – Senior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Me.) scored his 1,000th career point and triggered a second half comeback, leading the Keene State College men's basketball team to a thrilling 80-76 Little East Conference win over UMass-Boston at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.

It was not only a key LEC victory, but the first win at home this season for the Owls (4-3, 2-0 LEC).  UMass-Boston falls to 5-4 (1-1 LEC).

"It was a tough, gut it out win," said KSC Coach Rob Colbert.  "It was a real team effort for us to finish a game. It's a big step for this squad."

"That's the most emotion this team has shown all year," Colbert added. "I was more excited about the emotion and how the guys were happy for each other."

KSC freshman guard Tre' Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) played a big role in the game, draining a key three-pointer from the right corner with 36 seconds to play that put the Owls up for good at 76-73.  "It was just instinct.  I just shot it in rhythm like I do in practice all the time," said Tipton, who was making his second straight start and finished with a season high 14 points.  "It's huge for my confidence.  This whole game did a lot for my confidence. I was talking with my dad and my uncle about how I've been struggling and they told to play don't think.  I did that today and it worked."

Colbert also inserted junior Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) into his starting line-up to help against a tough UMB frontline. Keene State showed a bit of its own toughness. KSC senior Eric Fazio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y) set a thunderous pick then knocked down a three-pointer on a pick-and-roll to give the Owls an early 31-29 lead.

Consecutive baskets by junior Rahshjeem Benson (Boston, Mass.) put the Beacons back on top 40-32 with 3:06 to go in the half.

Fouled after grabbing a defensive rebound, Fazio hit one of his two free throws that tied the game at 42-all at halftime. Sophomore Vinny DeLucia (Miami, Fla.), who connected on four of his five shots from behind the arc, had16 first half points for the Beacons.

The Beacons pulled away from the Owls midway in the second half with a quick 6-0 swing.  After Benson hit a baseline jumper, KSC turned the ball over on the inbounds play.  Junior Kadeem Coulter (Boston, Mass.) hit one of two free throws, but junior William Rosary (Fonta, Ca.) tracked down the offensive rebound.  On the possession, Rosary hit a lay-up to put UMB up 65-54 with 8:36 to play.

"We're 0-3 at home and knew we had to step up," said KSC sophomore Tom Doyle (Wallingford, Conn.), who helped fuel the comeback with 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Down 67-54, KSC started its comeback, getting its deficit down to two points (67-65) on eight straight points by Martin, who hit a pair of three-pointers and two free throws.  "It shows a lot about our team coming back," said Martin. "Tom (Doyle) made some great hustle plays in the backcourt and we fed off of that." 

On a roll, Martin hit a corner jumper for his 1,000th career point, to keep it a two point game. "I didn't know I was close until right before the game,' said Martin about the milestone.  "I knew it was going to happen eventually, but it's nice to that it helped us get a huge win today."  Martin finished the game with 19 points.

"Ryan is a special kid and a special player," said Colbert. "No one deserves the accolades more than him.  He's all about winning. He doesn't care if he scores 10 or 35 points.   He's a player who works so hard at his game and do it in three years is really special.  I'm very excited for him."

Martin, who spent his freshman season at UMaine, becomes the 28th player in the program to reach the milestone and just the fifth do to do it in three years.

Following the hoopla, junior John Boyatsis (Dover, N.H.) hit a basket in the Owls next possession, trying the score 69-all with 4:30 to go.

Pivot play was crucial in the game.  After a slam by Benson put UMB up 73-71, KSC senior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.), who came off the bench to score a couple of big baskets, answered with a spin move to tie the game 73-all with1:46 to go.

Sophomore Tom Doyle (Wallingford, Conn.) blocked a shot by Delucia giving KSC back the ball with just under a minute to play. Following a time out, Martin raced down the floor and passed the ball to Tipton who drained his game-winning three-pointer.

UMB had several opportunities to tie the game.  DeLucia and senior Mike Mitchell (Dorchester, Mass.) both missed three-point shots.  Grabbing the rebound after Mitchell's miss, Tipton was fouled and hit both his shots from the line to make it 78-73.  Doyle added a pair from the line to account for the final score.   

A force on the boards, Fazio finished with 13 points and five rebounds.

DeLucia finished with 19 points and Benson, who was 7-9 from the field, had 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Beacons.  Mojica and sophomore Carl Joseph (Brockton, Mass.) each had 10 points.

The Owls held their own on the boards with both teams pulling down 38 rebounds.  KSC was 24-62 (39%) from the field; they connected on seven of 18 three-pointers (39%) and were 25-31 (81%) from the line.

The Owls get right back to work on Sunday, hosting Mass. College of Liberal Arts in a non-conference game at 4 p.m.