La Plume, PA (12-5-09) - Keystone College built a 17-point lead and then had to fight off a furious rally by Marywood University in the final five minutes, as the Giants escaped with an 80-77 victory over the Pacers in Colonial States Athletic Association (CSAC) men's basketball action.

Keystone, which placed five players in double figures, won their fourth straight to move to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the CSAC, while Marywood falls to 3-4 and 0-3.

The Giants used a pair of runs in the first half on their way to building a 39-25 advantage at the break.  With the score tied at nine, Keystone used an 11-2 run to take a 20-11 lead, thanks in part to a pair of three-pointers by Ryne Luce (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) bookended by a Spencer Lunger (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock) three and a Tercel Taylor (Jackson, MI/Jackson) jumper.

Marywood would pull within five, but Keystone closed the half on a 9-0 run.

In the second half the Giants twice built leads of 17 points, the second time with 4:55 remaining in the game, however the Pacers showed no quit as they once again climbed back into things.  With several chances to possibly to put the game out of reach, the Giants once again struggled from the free throw line, hitting 16-32 for the game.

The Pacers used those missed free throws and some timely shooting to pull within six with 1:53 left and within four at 79-75 with 31 seconds to play.  A Malcolm Boone (Sugar Loaf, NY/Warwick) free throw with 17 seconds to play extended the lead to five before the Pacers closed the gap to three.  The Giants once again had a chance to ice with it one second left, but a pair of missed free throws allowed the Pacers a last chance at a possible game tying three that missed the mark.

Taylor, Luce and Malcolm Boone (Sugar Loaf, NY/Warwick) all netted 16 point games for Keystone, while Kenneth Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) recorded another double-double with a 15-point and 11-rebound effort.  Troy Robinson (Detroit, MI/Lincoln Park) added 11 to the winning cause.

Boone also added nine rebounds and Taylor six, while Hardnett had a game high five assists.

Jacques Robinson put in a game high 18 points to lead Marywood, while James Lavan added 14.  Chadli Charlot pulled in a team high 10 boards.

Keystone will return to action on Saturday December 12 at 3pm when they play host to Rutgers-Camden at 3pm in non-conference action.


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