Top-seeded and 11th-ranked Keene State College captured the 2024 Little East Conference (LEC) Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament title with a 84-68 victory over second-seeded Western Connecticut State University Saturday at the Spaulding Gymnasium. This marks the third-consecutive LEC tournament win for the Owls, who have punched their ticket to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Keene State’s record improved to 24-3 with the win, while the Wolves record moved to 22-5.
Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) was named the 2024 LEC Men’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player. He scored 16 points with 15 boards, six blocks and five assists in the title game after netting 15 points with 16 boards, four blocks and five assists in a semifinal win over fifth-seeded Rhode Island College.
Nate Siow (5'8''-PG) led the Owls with a game-high 22 points, six boards and five assists in the championship final, while Spencer Aronson (6'1''-G) added 14 points. Mason Jean-Baptiste (6'1''-G) netted 12 points with three boards and two steals, and Alonzo Linton chipped in with 10 points.
Cameron Gallon (6'5''-F) led WestConn with 15 points, four rebounds three steals. Keeshawn Jones (6'4''-G/F) had 11 points and five boards, while Jourdan Belcher (6'4''-F) had 10 points and eight boards.
Keene State shot 44 percent (30-69) from the floor and 81 percent (17-of-21) from the line, while the Wolves shot just 34 percent (24-of-71) from the field and went 15-of-21 (71 percent) at the charity stripe.
The Owls held a narrow 31-26 lead heading into the second half, scoring the final five points of the opening frame on a Linton three and a Hunter layup. Keene State pulled award with a 13-3 run that started with a Siow jumper and was capped by a converted and-one sequence for Hunter with 9:22 to go in the game, putting the Owls up 54-38.

LEC Final: Keene State - Western Connecticut 84-68

LEC Semifinals:
Keene State - Rhode Island 83-68
Western Connecticut - UMass Dartmouth 88-63

LEC Quarterfinals:
UMass Dartmouth - UMass Boston 103-83
Southern Maine - Rhode Island 70-73

Courtesy of littleeast.com

All-Tournament MVP: Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) of Keene St.
Player of the Year: Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) of Keene St.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) of Keene St.
Rookie of the Year: Wesley Odiase (6'2''-F) of Keene St.
Coach of the Year: David Hastings of Keene St.

All-LEC First Team 2024

Brito

Hunter

Percy

Kourouma

Dixon

Young

First Team
Octavio Brito (6'4''-G) of Keene St.
Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) of Keene St.
Isaac Percy (6'3''-G) of UMass Dartmouth
Ousmane Kourouma (6'6''-F) of Rhode Island
Chance Dixon (6'0''-PG) of S.Maine
Jaheim Young (6'3''-F) of W.Connecticut

All-LEC Second Team 2024

Siow

Zayas

Zancan

Bosse

Whelan

Gallon

Second Team
Nate Siow (5'8''-PG) of Keene St.
Emanuel Zayas (5'7''-PG) of UMass Boston
Jackson Zancan (6'5''-F) of UMass Dartmouth
Kyler Bosse (6'4''-G) of Plymouth St.
Tommy Whelan (6'1''-G) of S.Maine
Cameron Gallon (6'5''-F) of W.Connecticut

LEC All-Defensive Team 2024

Brito

Hunter

Siow

Kourouma

Williams

All-Defensive Team
Octavio Brito (6'4''-G) of Keene St.
Jeff Hunter (6'7''-C) of Keene St.
Nate Siow (5'8''-PG) of Keene St.
Ousmane Kourouma (6'6''-F) of Rhode Island
Jeremiah Williams (6'2''-G) of W.Connecticut