The Keene State Men’s basketball team’s record-breaking season came to a close in the third round of the NCAA March Madness tournament. The team traveled to Tarble Pavilion in Pennsylvania where they fell 82-58 to Swarthmore College.
Throughout the game, the Owls did not look like themselves on the court after shooting a season worst 29.9 percent from the floor and going just 5-26 from beyond three point range.
The early moments of the game saw good back and forth action, but then saw Swarthmore score 14 unanswered points to take a 26-13 lead that the Owls were never able to chip away at. Keene State entered the locker room at half down 41-28.
Keene scored the first two points of the second half to crawl within 11, but that would be as close as they would get, as Swarthmore’s lead only grew. Sophomore captain and guard Octavio Brito, senior captain and forward Jeff Hunter, and junior guard Nate Siow all posted double digit points for the Owls. Brito led the way with 14 points and three rebounds. Overall, Keene State combined 11 turnovers and six assists on their 58 points.
After eliminating Swarthmore College in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, the Phoenixes were able to get their revenge on the Owls. Swarthmore then went on to defeat Nichols College to advance to the Elite Eight, where they will face Christopher Newport University.
After setting a program record with 28 wins and an undefeated conference record in the regular season, Keene State will now focus their attention toward next season beginning in November.
Cal Thompson can be contacted at
cthompson@kscequinox.com
