Newton, MA-- Charles Horton (Detroit, MI) made the game-winning layup with 31 seconds on the clock, and Justin Harris (New Orleans, LA) iced the victory with two free throws, as Lasell College upset St. Joseph's College of Maine, 79-75, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's basketball action this afternoon. Lasell improves to 9-14 overall and 7-9 in the GNAC, while St. Joseph's finished the day 17-6 overall, and 12-4 in the conference.
There were 13 lead changes in the first half, most of which took place in the first seven minutes. Lasell opened with possession of the ball and immediately got on the scoreboard with a Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) layup. Alberto Rue (Jamaica Plain, MA) responded for the Monks with a premium post-move as he easily dropped in two points. The teams traded buckets through a fifth tie in the game, at which point a three-pointer by Tyler Kelley (Saco, ME) on the wing gave the visitors a two point edge, 18-16.
St. Joseph's pulled ahead by seven on a 9-5 run that made the score 28-21, with 8:24 remaining in the half. The Monks took the biggest lead of the half, 32-23, at the six minute mark on a fast-break layup by Julio Vazquez (Waterbury, CT). It was at this point that Sean Joynes (Philadelphia, PA) put in a bucket down low with two defenders on him to switch the momentum back to the Lasers. Lasell closed the gap to just a one point deficit, after an 8-0 run, with three minutes left on the clock.
One minute later, the Lasers patiently passed the ball around the perimeter as they looked for the right opportunity to take the lead. That chance came when Lance Theard (New Orleans, LA) penetrated through traffic in the key to lay-in the go-ahead bucket, giving Lasell a 36-35 edge, with 2:05 left in the half.
In the final two minutes, the teams went hoop-for-hoop, each took turns having control of the scoreboard. A final basket by Kelley in the last seconds of the half put St. Joseph's ahead, 41-40, at halftime.
St. Joseph's shot nearly 60% in the first half with Chris Petzy (East Kingston, NH) and Kelley each scoring in double-figures and combining for 25 total points. Williams scored 16 points for the Lasers, while tearing down 13 boards in the first half. The Lasers shot 47% before the intermission.
The visitors remained in control of the scoreboard and went ahead by as much as eight points by ten minutes into the second half. At 9:18, the Monks had a 65-57 lead after two free throws by Kelley. The Lasers, however, began to chip away at the lead, going on a 15-6 stretch over a five minute span to take their first lead of the half, 73-72, when Horton drained a three off the dribble at the top of the key.
Petzy hit the first half on two free throws to tie the score at 73-all just thirty seconds later. After consecutive possessions with neither team connecting, Williams stepped in front of a Zach O'Brien (Schenectady, NY) pass and converted the steal into a fast break layup to bring the Lasers ahead once more, 75-73. A Laser foul sent Rue to the Monks free throw line and the senior hit both for the seventh tie of the game, with 1:30 left in regulation.
With 1:06 left to play, Horton threw up a trey unsuccessfully, but picked up the crucial offensive rebound from his own shot to give the Lasers a second chance at an offense attack. With time expiring from the shot-clock, Horton drove to the hoop and slipped in the Lasers' go-ahead bucket, for a 77-75 Lasell lead. A defensive board by Harris after a missed jumper on the Monks end resulted in a foul and Harris hit both freebies to seal the Lasers, 79-75, victory.
Williams led all scorers with 28 points, while also grabbing 16 rebounds and securing four steals. Horton produced 13 total points, connecting on three hits from downtown and Harris finished the contest with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Joynes ended with eight points, six boards and two assists.
The Monks were led by Petzy with 18 total points, though Ray Eatmon (Huntington, NY) was close behind him with 17 points. O'Brien added nine points and five boards for the visitors and Kelley scored 13 points. Rashon Jones (Bridgeport, CT) tallied seven points, four rebounds, three steals, three assists, and four blocks in the defeat.
The contest marked Lasell's final home game of the season. The Lasers will hit the road for their final two regular season games, the first of which will be held at Mount Ida College on Tuesday, February 16th at 6:00 p.m.