DANBURY, Conn. - Junior guard Kendall Robinson (East Patchogue, N.Y.) netted a team-high 15 points but the Western Connecticut State University men's basketball team was edged by visiting Keene State College, 81-80, in a Little East Conference matchup on Monday afternoon. 

Senior guard Matthew Turner (Trumbull, Conn.) and junior forward Jaheim Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.) joined Robinson in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Young added nine rebounds in the solid effort. Junior guard Ahmod Privott (Middletown, Conn.) also put forth a strong outing with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Junior forward Jeff Hunter (Hudson, Mass.) paced the Owls with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Rookie guard Octavio Brito (Lincoln, R.I.) chipped in with 14, while reserves Jordan Santos (Hollis, N.H.) and Max Bonney-Liles (Hudson, N.H) added 11 piece. 

The game featured 13 lead changes and WestConn would hold a 47-42 advantage at halftime. They snagged the lead by shooting a staggering 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the field which included 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from three-point range to go along with a 90 percent clip from the free throw line (9-of-10). 

However, Keene State stepped up the defensive intensity in the second half. They would hold WestConn to just a 36.7 percent showing from the field in the final stanza. They also came up with several steals which led to breakaway layups en route to a 12-4 edge in fast break attempts. 

The hosts pulled ahead by as many as 11 points with just under 13 minutes remaining in the contest before Keene rallied with a 16-5 run, deadlocking the count at 69-69 when Santos drilled a shot from long-range with 9:10 left.

It would remain close the rest of the way. Santos nailed an elbow jumper to put Keene on top, 78-76 with two minutes remaining. Robinson answered with a trifecta from the left wing before Bonney-Liles quickly countered with a corner three-pointer, giving Keene the 81-80 lead with 30 seconds remaining. 

WestConn held for the ball for the final possession but the Owls played solid ball defense, forcing WestConn into a last second desperation shot that sailed wide. With the loss, WestConn moved to 7-7 overall and 1-5 in league play, while Keene improved to 10-2 and 5-0. 

WestConn returns to action for yet another LEC tilt when they travel to Plymouth State on Saturday at 3 p.m.