Aston, PA (1-11-10) - Keystone College sophomore Malcolm Boone (Sugar Loaf, NY/Warwick) poured in a game high 25 points, including hitting on two free throws with 7.2 seconds remaining as the Giants handed Neumann University its first loss in conference play, 74-71.

With the win Keystone moves to 7-3 overall and 4-1 in CSAC play, while Neumann falls to 5- 6 and 3-1.

In addition to his career high offensive total, perhaps Boone's biggest contribution of the night came on the defensive end of the floor.  With eight seconds to play, and the Giants clinging to a 70-69 lead, Boone stripped the ball away from Neumann's Sean Armstrong as he attempted a potential go-ahead basket.  

Armstrong was whistled for the intentional foul as Boone began to break-a-way and he then calmly converted both free throws to give the Giants a three point bulge, 72-69.  It should come as no surprise to Keystone fans that it was Boone who had given the Giants the lead for good, when he hit a running jumper from the right side with 30 seconds left to play.

Ryne Luce (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) iced things for the Giants by hitting two free throws with six seconds left in the game, putting Keystone up 74-69.  For the game Keystone shot 75% from the free throw line, hitting on 21 of 28 attempts. 

The contest was a back and forth affair with four lead changes and three ties in the first half, with Keystone's largest lead coming at the break, 37-31.  The Giants would build their advantage to seven in the second half before the Knights tied things at 45 with just under 13 minutes to play.

The teams would exchange leads over the final 12 minutes, with Keystone breaking a 66-66 deadlock with a Kenneth Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) layup with 1:21 to play.  After a Neumann trifecta gave the Knights the lead at 69-68 with 59 seconds to play, it was Boone's runner that put the Giants ahead to stay.

Boone, who went 7-9 from the floor and a stellar 11-12 from the charity stripe, added seven boards and two assists.

Hardnett pocketed the double-double with a 15-point and 10-rebound outing, while Tercel Taylor (Jackson, MI/Jackson) added 10 points.  Luce chipped in with nine.

Armstrong led Neumann with 21 points, one of three Knights in double figures.

Keystone will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Cabrini College for an 8pm tip.  Thursday's contest will mark the second time in 10 days that the Giants and Cavaliers will square off, with Cabrini having taken the first game on January 4.


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