NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Lasell University men's basketball team made a strong second-half comeback Wednesday evening but lost a 105-97 decision at Albertus Magnus College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.

The Lasers fall to 8-14 overall and 5-3 in the GNAC, while the Falcons improve to 17-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

Sophomore EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) led all scorers in the high-scoring affair with 38 points for the Lasers, making 9-of-20 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 16-of-18 from the free throw line. Junior Kevin Nunez (Dorchester, Mass.) added 25 points and classmate Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) posted his 13th double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Senior Jahmerikah Green-Younger (Norwalk, Conn.) led the Falcons, tallying his 1,000th-career point and matching his career-high with 32 points. Tyreek Perkins (Norwalk, Conn.) added 17 points and eight rebounds and a Terry Dawkins (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with 11 points.

The score was tied 31-all with six minutes to play in the first half when the hosts scored eight straight over the next three minutes to pull ahead 39-31. The Falcons reached a half-high 12-point bulge, 47-35, at the 1:10 mark before heading into the break up, 49-38. Day had 20 points in the first half for the Lasers.

The Falcons maintained the lead in the second half, pulling away to a 20-point margin, 85-65, with just under nine minutes to play. The Lasers did not give up, and fought their way back into the game and trailed by just six points, 98-92, with 1:33 on the clock. But Dawkins made a bucket and Albertus made five free throws in the final minute to hold off the Laser comeback and secure the win.

Both teams play GNAC games again on Saturday, February 15, as Albertus Magnus hosts Norwich University at 3 p.m. and Lasell hosts Anna Maria College at 4 p.m. The Lasers and Amcats are tied for fourth place in the GNAC with 5-3 conference records.

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