Buchanon Nets 25 as Men’s Basketball Edges Keene State College, 80-77

KEENE, N.H. – Elms College sophomore guard Jerry Buchanon (Windsor, Conn.) netted a game high and collegiate career-best 25 points as the Blazers notched an 80-77 victory over Keene State College in Tuesday evening's non-conference men's basketball game at Spaulding Gymnasium in Keene, N.H.

With the win, Elms improves to 1-2 on the season and first-year head coach Rob Southall earns his first collegiate-career head coaching victory. Keene State moves to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

Trailing by four at halftime, Elms kept to within five points over the first 10:53 of the second period before senior forward Isaiah Odunlami (Providence, R.I.) powered in a layup at the 9:07 mark to give the Blazers a 54-53 lead.

The sides continued to trade baskets and with the score set at 77-75 in favor of Keene State, Elms' sophomore guard Derek Murphy (Columbia, Md.) swished a trey to give the Blazers a 78-77 lead with 2:13 remaining in regulation. Odunlami then converted two free throws to extend the lead to 80-77 with 13 seconds to play. The Owls had a chance to tie the game but Matt Ozzella's (Medway, Mass.) shot wouldn't drop as the Blazers held on for the victory.

Buchanon was stellar hitting 10 of 17 from the field and 4 of 6 from the stripe en route to his game-high 25 points, while Murphy and junior guard Tyler Scott (Salem, Ore.) added 10 points each off the bench.

Freshman guard Conny Ihearahu (Largo, Md.) added eight points and six boards in reserve, while senior guard Dustin Trail (East Hartford, Conn.) and Odunlami each scored eight points. Junior forward Kenny Lockett (Atlanta, Ga.) was just one point and one rebound shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, while Odunlami dished out five assists in the winning effort.

In the first stanza, the sides traded baskets back and forth and battled to a 10-10 tie before Keene State used a 13-4 run capped by a free throw with 9:42 left in the frame from Lucas Hammel (Methuen, Mass.) to give the Owls a 23-14 advantage. Scott then swished a pair of free throws and canned a three-pointer, and Buchanon hit a jumper to help the Blazers pull to within four at 25-21 with 8:41 to play in the period.

Keene State extended its lead back to 10, but Elms responded and knotted the score at 35-35 on a layup by Buchanon at the 1:44 mark. However, the Owls capitalized on a jump shot by Tre Tipton (Stamford, Conn.) and a pair of free throws from Jim Hepple (Newington, Conn.) with 18 seconds left to give Keene State a 39-35 lead at intermission.

The Owls' Nate Howard (Cheshire, Conn.) led five players in double figures with 13 points, as Tipton and Matt Sherlock (Melrose, Mass.) followed with 11 points each off the bench. Hepple added 10 points in relief, while starter Nick Gagliolo (Peabody, Mass.) also scored 10 in the losing effort for Keene State.

Howard was also the team's top-rebounder pulling down a game-best 18 boards. Buchanon and Hepple each registered a game-best four steals for their respective teams, while Hammel dished out four assists.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Thursday, November 21 when it hosts Springfield College in its 2013-14 home opener at 7:00 p.m. at Picknelly Arena.