Newton, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference preseason poll was released on Monday afternoon separated by two divisions (North and South). The Lasell Men's Basketball team placed 5th in the South Division poll. In the North division, Emmanuel College took the top spot with seven first-place votes and 72 points while two-time and reigning GNAC champion University of Saint Joseph (CT) received 9 first-place votes and earning 87 points.
Last year, the Lasers finished with a 15-11 overall and 11-7 GNAC record under veteran Head Coach Aaron Galletta, who will be in his 17th season as head coach for Lasell. Lasell made the GNAC postseason as the #3 seed and defeated Norwich in the GNAC Quarterfinal 69-57 but would fall in the semifinals against notorious GNAC powerhouse Albertus Magnus 96-82. Leading the Men's Basketball team this season is grad student returner EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) who averaged 21.6 points per game last season including a matched career-high of 45 points in the final game against Albertus Magnus in the semifinals. Key returners for Lasell are seniors Demerrick Warren (Deerfield Beach, FL.), senior DaVon Bradley (Indianapolis, Ind.), grad student Almando Marinez (Lawrence, Mass.) as well as sophomores Conan McCusker (Dorchester, Mass.) and Karim Belhouchet (Newton, Mass.) to step up and make key contributions on both ends.
The Lasers open up their season at home Wednesday night against Babson in the Athletic Center.
2022 GNAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
NORTH DIVISION
1. Emmanuel (7) - 72
2. Anna Maria (5) - 63
3. Saint Joseph's Maine (1) - 48
4. Norwich - 40
5. Colby-Sawyer - 32
6. Rivier - 18
SOUTH DIVISION
1. Saint Joseph CT (9) - 87
2. Albertus Magnus (3) - 80
3. JWU (1) - 65
4. Regis - 47
5. Lasell - 44
6. Dean - 27
7. Elms - 14