Newton, Mass. (01/29/13) - The Lasell College men's basketball team avenged an earlier defeat to Norwich University, defeating the visiting Cadets 68-60 in overtime on Tuesday night. Lasell improved to 3-10 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play and and 4-16 on the year while the Cadets slipped to 2-10 in the league and 5-14 overall.
Angel Ortiz (East Lyme, Conn.) paced the Lasers with 18 points, Frank Apisa (Branchburg, N.J.) scored a career-high 17 points, and Brock Walters (Jacksonville, Fla.) career-high 15 points on four three pointers helped Lasell to the extra period victory. Chris Canino (Hartford, Conn.) snared a game-high 12 rebounds for Lasell, and Mike Vallone (Wallingford, Conn.) dished out a career-high six assists on the night.
Gary Gladden (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Josh Cabrera (Providence, R.I.) lead the way for Norwich, netting 15 and 12 points respectively in a losing effort.
Lasell out-rebounded the visitors 49-34 in the game, and used their advantage at the charity stripe, knocking down 17 free throws compared to six for Norwich to pick up the GNAC victory.
Gladden scored seven points in the opening six minute to help propel Norwich to a 12-2 lead in the contests early minutes. The Lasers hung tough, but never lead in the game's opening half, and Norwich took a 31-24 lead into the break.
A three point play by Gladden at the 14:23 mark in the second half gave Norwich their biggest lead of the game at 38-24, before Lasell was able to grind their way back into the contest. Ortiz knocked down a triple to spark a 15-0 run for the hosts, that saw Lasell take a 39-38 lead when Walters drilled his third three point field goal of the game with 9:34 remaining in the contest.
A short jumper by Cabrera gave Norwich a 50-46 lead with just over three minutes to play, but the Lasers drew within one at 50-49 when Canino answered with a three point play. Cabrera knocked down a jump shot to push the visitors cushion back to three at 52-49, but Ortiz answered with a jumper from three point land to even the game at 52-52 with 2:35 left in regulation.
Vallone and Norwich's Jimmy Warden (North Andover, Mass.) traded baskets leaving the game tied at 54-54 1:23 to play, and following a Lasell turnover Norwich had possession with just under a minute on the clock.
Lasell forced a turnover by the Cadets with 26 seconds to play, but were unable to convert on a pull-up jumper as time expired.
Walters opened the extra period with a corner three to give Lasell a 57-54 lead, and following a pair of misses by Norwich, a short jumper by Apisa gave Lasell a five point edge. Cabrera cut the deficit to three points with a driving basket, but Ortiz corraled an errant shot by the Lasers, and Apisa was fouled with 48 seconds remaining in overtime. The sophomore forward knocked down a pair of free throws to put Lasell ahead 63-58, and following a missed three pointer by Norwich the Lasers were able to close out the game at the charity stripe.
Lasell will visit Emerson on Thursday Jan. 31st for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off as the fight for one of the final conference playoff spots.