By: Western Connecticut State University Athletics
DANBURY, Conn. - Senior guard Tayejon Lynch (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Western Connecticut State University Wolves to an 84-68 win over the visiting Keene State College Owls in the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Men's Basketball Championship Finals this afternoon at Feldman Arena. Top-seeded WestConn improves to 21-6 with its fourth victory in a row, taking its sixth LEC title and its first since 2020. The Wolves, who lost at Keene State in the last three LEC Finals in New Hampshire, earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The No. 3-seeded Owls see their season end at 17-11.
WestConn jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the opening 6:19 of the game, including four points by junior guard Elijah Jean-Guillaume (New Haven, Conn.). Freshman Avery Taitt-Christina (Far Rockaway,, N.Y.) hit a jumper at the 9:34 mark to give the Wolves a double-digit lead at 19-11, and senior guard Jahlyl Morgan (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) made a pair of free throws to give the home team its largest lead of the first half at 36-21 with just under four minutes before the break. Keene State closed the first half with four unanswered three-pointers, two in a row by Ryan Blakey, to cut their deficit to 39-34.
WestConn ended a stretch of 5:10 without a field goal on a Morgan three-pointer 52 seconds into the second half and a layup by Jean-Guillaume pushed the Wolves' lead back up to double digits at 49-38 at the 16:15 mark. Keene State closed to within two possessions for the last time with 14:42 on the clock on a pair of free throws by Jordan Cooper to make it, 50-44. WestConn answered with a 6-0 run to go back ahead by 11 and increased its advantage to as many as 19 points at 71-52 with 7:07 remaining on two Jean-Guillaume free throws.
WestConn shot 75.6 percent from the foul line, making 34 of 35 including 20 of 27 in the second half. Jean-Guillaume and Morgan joined Lynch in double figures in scoring with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Lynch also dished three assists and did not commit a turnover in 34 minutes to collect the Most Outstanding Player award for the tournament. Jean-Guillaume added eight rebounds and Morgan had three steals, while senior forward Nick Boyce (Jamaica, N.Y.) totaled nine points and nine boards. Cooper led all scorers with 33 points, Blakey came off the Owl bench to score 12 point and grab five rebounds, and Dennis Wainana had seven points and eight boards for the Owls.