Box Score
WILLIMANTIC, Conn.-- The Little East Conference's top-ranked defense was no match for the conference's No. 1 offense Tuesday night, as Keene State College (86.9 ppg.) soared past Eastern Connecticut State University (62.6 ppg. allowed) in men's basketball Tuesday evening, 99-61, the three-time defending conference champions downing the Warriors for the seventh straight time.
 
One of two unbeatens in the conference, Keene (10-3, 5-0 LEC) shot 52.1 percent from the field and 50 percent (12-of-24) from behind the arc with junior guard Mitch Shettles shooting 5-5 from deep en route to 19 points.  Senior guard Octavio Brito led the Owls with 26 points and eight rebounds. Keene remains a half-game behind Rhode Island College, which edged visiting Western Connecticut State University, 71-69, Tuesday night.
 
Keene converted 24 points off Eastern's 15 turnovers and out-rebounded the Warriors by 12 and wasguilty of only five turnovers which did not lead to an opposing point.
 
First-year guard JJ Hay (Columbia) made his career debut for the Warriors with one field goal attempt in four minutes. Sophomore guard Pedro Perry (New London) came off the bench for the Warriors, contributing ten points. Sophomore Drew Soltis (Bridgeport) had career-high eight points on 3-of-3 shooting in just 10 minutes.
 
Two Warriors ranked in the conference's top 10 in scoring in sophomore Julian Sanchez (Willimantic) with 15.6 points and junior Dominick Dao (Terryville) with 15.4. The two combined for 21 points on the day, Sanchez with a team-high 12 and Dao nine. Sanchez also had four of Eastern's six blocked shots.  
 
The Owls were previously ranked 12^th in the nation and are now receiving votes in the most recent poll. Brito was named LEC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. He is second in the conference in scoring averaging at 21.6 points.
 
The Warriors travel to VTSU Castleton Thursday at 5 p.m. The Spartans (2-10, 1-3 LEC) are ranked last in the conference in offense (57.6) and scoring margin (-15.8).