NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore Andrew Jaworski (Tolland, Conn.), junior Frank Oftring (North Attleboro, Mass.) and senior Brandon Johnson (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) combined for 52 points and 24 rebounds Wednesday evening as Babson College defeated Lasell College, 82-58, in non-conference men's basketball action at the Lasell Athletic Center.
The Lasers were within five points at halftime, but Babson scored the first 10 points after the break to open up a 15-point margin and the Beavers maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way. Babson recorded its first win of the season, moving to 1-1, while Lasell drops to 1-2.
Junior Stefan Masciarelli (Northbridge, Mass.) led all scorers with 25 points for Lasell, while sophomore Dylan Murray (Williston, Fla.) added 17 points after making four three-point shots.
Jaworski led the Beavers with 19 points, while Oftring dropped in 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Johnson finished with a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.
Babson had an early eight-point margin (13-5) after back-to-back layups by Oftring and Jaworski before Murray answered for Lasell with his second three-pointer of the night. The Lasers didn't score again for more than five minutes, but Babson couldn't capitalize, scoring just four points in that stretch. Lasell came alive with nine straight points to tie the score at 20-all with under seven minutes remaining, including another Murray three, a pair of buckets by Masciarelli and one by sophomore Angel Reyes (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
It was tied at 25-apiece when Babson scored seven consecutive points to go up 32-35. Lasell got back to within three points at 34-31 before Jaworski made a late basket to make it a 26-31 game at the break.
Jaworski made the first three baskets for Babson to open the second half, and Oftring made the next two to push the Beaver lead to 46-31 three minutes in. Lasell got as close as 13 points (53-40) after a hoop by Murray with 13 minutes to play, but Babson pulled ahead by 19 by the midway point of the half and the Lasers didn't threaten the rest of the way.
Lasell is back on the court on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. tip-off at non-conference foe Nichols College. The Beavers return home for their first home games of the season this weekend at the Babson Invitational, beginning with UMaine Farmington on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
-- 30 --