Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Senior Harry Alexander (Washington, D.C.) scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead four players in double figures, as UMass Dartmouth overcame a nine-point first half deficit to notch a 77-66 Little East Conference men's basketball victory over Keene State Wednesday evening at the Tripp Athletic Center.
The host Corsairs (14-8, 9-4 LEC) trailed 32-23 with 3:40 remaining in the first half before closing back to within five (39-34) at the break, and the visiting Owls (8-14, 6-7 LEC) built their edge to six points on junior Jaylen Franklin's (Springfield, Mass.) three-pointer midway through the second half. UMass Dartmouth took control of the contest with a 17-0 run over a five-plus minute stretch that was capped by sophomore Matt Valles's (Fairhaven, Mass.) jumper with 5:11 to play, as the run was sparked by Alexander's jumper and propelled by seven combined points off the bench from sophomore Drew Plante (Swansea, Mass.) and freshman John Martins Jr. (Taunton, Mass.). The Corsairs maintained no less than a nine-point lead in the final four minutes of action to complete their first regular season sweep of Keene State in nine years.
Sophomore Marcus Azor (Brockton, Mass.) added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the triumph for UMass Dartmouth, which received 10 points and eight boards from sophomore Sean Leahy (Hanson, Mass.) along with 10 points and four caroms off the bench from sophomore Dhalyn Sanders-Dyer (Worcester, Mass.). The Corsairs received at least two points from 11 of 12 players on the night, as the hosts shot 46 percent (30-65) from the field overall and held a 39-36 rebounding advantage while converting 22 Owl turnovers into 22 points.
Franklin notched 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in the setback for Keene State, which also received 19 points from junior James Anozie (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). Junior DeVon Beasley (Andover, Mass.) chipped in with 13 points and three assists for the visitors, who received 10 points, six boards and three assists from freshman Jeff Hunter (Hudson, Mass.). The Owls shot 43 percent (23-54) from the floor and canned eight from behind the arc for the contest.
UMass Dartmouth travels to Danbury, Conn. on Saturday afternoon for a Little East Conference encounter with Western Connecticut that tips-off at 3:00 pm, as the Corsairs hold a half game lead over the Colonials for the top spot in the league standings. Keene State hosts Rhode Island College in a Little East matchup on Saturday afternoon in Keene, N.H. that also tips-off at 3:00 pm.
(Photo Credit: Kris Jean-Francois '23)
