KEENE, N.H. – The Castleton University men's basketball team ran into a tough Keene State program on Wednesday night, as the fourth-ranked Owls defeated the Spartans 102-49 in Little East Conference action.
Castleton is now 3-12 on the season with an 0-7 mark in conference play, while Keene State improves to 16-1 and 8-0 in the league. The Spartans shot 41.3 percent in the game (19-of-46) and hit five threes, but Keene State knocked down 48.6 percent from the floor (35-of-72) and buried 17 threes. The Owls won the rebounding battle 42-28 and outscored Castleton 35-2 off turnovers.
Justin Schwarzbeck had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds, while
Tray Wright added 13 points.
Carter Mackey had four points and four rebounds while
Brandon Cahill added five points.
Jordan Hunt had four points for the Spartans.
Keene State was led by 20 points and eight boards from Jeff Hunter, with Octavio Brito chipping in 19 points and six boards. Hunter also had five assists and four blocks. Spencer Arronson and Liam Johnston had 11 points apiece while Nate Siow dished out seven helpers.
The Spartans battled tightly in the early minutes of the game, using a 7-2 run to turn an 11-7 deficit into a 14-13 lead. Keene responded with a quick 7-0 run of its own to re-assert itself with a 20-14 edge. Schwarzbeck buried a three to stop the bleeding and hit a pair of free throws on the Spartans' next possession to make it 22-19 Owls at the midway mark of the first half. After an Owl layup,
John Walsh knocked down a three to pull Castleton within two, 24-22, but three straight threes by Keene made it an 11-point game, 33-22. The threes kicked off a 24-2 run that covered five minutes of play and ended with the Owls ahead 48-24. The two sides were nearly even over the final four minutes of the half, with Keene leading 55-30 at the break.
The Spartans were never able to string together any lengthy runs to chip away at the Keene State lead, with the Owls pulling away further in the second half behind the strength of nine three-pointers.
Castleton remains on the road on Saturday with a 3 p.m. tilt at Rhode Island College.
