NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) erupted for 45 points Wednesday evening as Lasell University rolled past Regis College, 99-76, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball game at the Lasell Athletic Center.
The Lasers won their fourth straight game and fifth in the last six outings, improving to 4-0 in the GNAC and 7-11 overall, while the Pride drop to 6-12 overall and 2-3 in the GNAC. Regis had defeated Lasell in a non-conference game two weeks ago, 95-91.
Day was red-hot from the field, connecting on 12-of-16 shots, including 5-of-7 from three-point land, and 16-of-20 from the free throw line. He was one of four Lasers who scored in double figures as junior Jonathan Friberg (North Attleboro, Mass.) tallied 18 points and eight rebounds, classmate Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) posted his 10th double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and junior Kevin Nunez (Dorchester, Mass.) added 10 points and seven boards.
Regis also had four players score in double figures as junior Devante Thompson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) finished with 19 points, freshman Cam Wilkins (Taunton, Mass.) added 15 points off the bench, junior Juvens Dalger (Oakland, Park, Fla.) was good for 13 points and nine rebounds, and junior Marc Trinidad (Bronx, N.Y.) contributed 11 points and nine boards.
Lasell took control of the game early, jumping out to a 14-4 lead just five minutes in. It was a 23-8 lead five minutes later, and a 48-32 margin at halftime. Day scored 19 of his points in the opening frame, while Friberg chipped in with 10.
The Lasers scored the first 13 points of the second half, including back-to-back three-pointers from Day and five points from Friberg, to push the advantage to 61-32. It was a 68-43 lead for the hosts midway through the second half, and Regis got no closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Lasell looks to keep its momentum going this Saturday with a GNAC home game against Rivier University at 3 p.m. Regis returns home to host Emmanuel College in Saturday at 2 p.m. for its Senior Day affair.
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