DANBURY, Conn. - Senior forward
Kendall Robinson (Bellport, N.Y.) notched a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Western Connecticut State University men's basketball team fell to visiting sixth-ranked Keene State College, 92-76, in a Little East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Feldman Arena.
It marked the second loss of the season to the Owls for the Wolves, who dropped to 19-2 overall and 11-2 in league play. The visitors improved to 21-1 and 13-0.Â
WestConn sophomore guard
Keeshawn Jones (Middletown, N.Y.) added 11 points off the bench, while senior forward
Jaheim Young (Brooklyn, N.Y.) put up a solid line with nine points, six rebounds and a game-high five steals.Â
Senior forward Jeff Hunter (Hudson, Mass.) paced the Owls with a double-double of his own on 23 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. Sophomore guard Spencer Aronson (Holliston, Mass.) chipped in with 23 which included six shots from beyond-the-arc. Sophomore guard Octavio Brito (Lincoln, R.I.) finished with 21 points, while junior guard Nate Siow (Lowell, Mass.) dished out a game-high nine assists.
The first half featured 12 lead changes as the squads exchanged hoops throughout. Keene State would eventually earn their largest lead of the frame when Aronson canned a trifecta for a 40-33 advantage with 1:56 remaining before the break. With the score at 41-39, Aronson was fouled on a three-point attempt from the corner with one second left. He would hit the ensuing trio of free throws to maintain the Owls' lead at 44-39 at halftime.
The visitors continued to build on that momentum as they opened the second half with a 9-2 spurt. WestConn could not muster a rally the rest of the way.Â
For the game WestConn forced 22 turnovers while committing just 15. However, Keene State dominated the glass with a 54-37 advantage. They also connected on 15-of-37 (41 percent) of their three-point attempts, while the Wolves went just 5-of-16 (31 percent).
The contest also marked Senior Day as six WestConn players - Robinson, Young,
Jordon Brown (Danbury, Conn.),
Solomon Silas (Danbury, Conn.),
Ryan Alkins (Queens, N.Y.) and
Joe Brown (Brookfield, Conn.) - were honored before play.
WestConn will look to return to its winning ways when they host non-conference opponent Old Westbury on Monday at 7 p.m.