Keene State Starts Fast in Win Over Main Presque Isle
KEENE, N.H. - - Keene State scored the first 15 points of the game and never looked back in a 93-58 trouncing of Maine Presque Ilse in the opening round of the ECAC Men’s Basketball Tournament inside Spalding Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
Four Keene State Owls reached double figures, led by Gabe Marquis who came off the bench to net a team-best 16 points. The No. 2 seed Keene State squad forced 13 first half turnovers en route to 19 points off the extra possessions in the opening 20 minutes in a game where 12 team members found the scoring column.
Of the 12 Keene State Owls that scored, seven connected on at least one 3-pointer. Marquis led the way with a trio of long-range connections while Jordan Cooper and Allyn Wright had a pair of 3-pointers each.
Wright (14) and Cooper (13) combined for 27 points while Edric Louissant contributed 12 for the winners.
Akhe McMicheal did all he could to keep the No. 7 seed Maine Presque Isle Owls within reach with his game-high 20 points but the visitors shot just 27.3 percent from the field and finished with 20 turnovers.
Keene State led wire-to-wire and by as many as 39 points in a game in which the club enjoyed a 45-32 rebounding advantage.
Kareem Porter led all players with eight rebounds in the win as eight Kenee State Owls had at least three rebounds.
Keene State will advance to face the winner of McDaniel College and Rutgers Camden Sunday. Tip-time is slated for 1 p.m. from Spalding Gymnasium.