NEWTON, Mass. (2/6/16) – For the second time this season, the Lasell men's basketball team downed the defending Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champion Albertus Magnus College, 98-83, inside the Athletic Center Gym on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Lasers climb to 13-1 in the GNAC and 16-5 overall, while the Falcons suffer their third conference loss at 10-3 and sink to 14-4 this season.
STAT LEADERS FOR LASELL
Sophomore guard Scott Arsenault (Walpole, Mass.) poured in a game-high 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting from three point range, with a 2-for-2 outing at the free throw line. The 27 point performance from behind the arc puts Arsenault at 84 made three's this season, breaking the school record of 82 set in 2008-2009 by Brad Caravoulias.
Junior guard Armin Omanovic (Wilkesboro, N.C.) converted 21-of-22 shots from the free throw line along with 3-of-10 shots from the floor for 27 points overall, while senior forward Pat Marchand (Cranston, R.I.) recorded another huge double-double of 18 points and 18 boards. Senior forward RJ O'Brien (Manchester, N.H.) capped double-digit scoring for the Lasers with 11 points, three assists and two boards.
STAT LEADERS FOR ALBERTUS
For the Falcons, sophomore forward Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) turned a double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds with five assists. Two additional starters scored in double figures in the effort, as freshman guard Ryan Pittman (Stratford, Conn.) registered 14 while senior guard Marc Wilson (Jersey City, N.J.) contributed 11. Sophomore guard Erick Langston (Stratford, Conn.) came off the bench to score 14 points with four rebounds and two helpers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Outshooting the Lasers 43.9% to 42.5%, the Falcons came out with a commanding 7-0 run before Omanovic and senior forward Logan Liberty (Duxbury, Vt.) connected on two free throws to pull within one possession, 7-4. Albertus continued to press the Lasers, igniting a 10-4 run before Arsenault sunk his first three of the game to cut the deficit 24-18. The Falcons would not let go of the lead easily, as junior forward Grant Ellis (Newark, N.J.) drained a 15-footer with 8:47 left on the clock forcing a Lasell timeout as the scoreboard read 30-18 in favor of the visitors.
The Lasers dug deep in the closing minutes of the first half, as Arsenault led the charge with back-to-back three pointers accompanied by two buckets from the free throw line. Omanovic did his job at the line next, where Marchand set up O'Brien for a deep bucket behind the arc to deadlock the game at 31-all. O'Brien knotted the game once more with 5:28 to go, where Omanovic connected on the go-ahead basket from the charity stripe, 35-33.
Leading 50-44 at halftime, the Lasers used 51.9% shooting from the floor and 92.9% shooting from the charity stripe to hold onto the lead for the second half's entirety. At a most opportune moment in the stretch, Arsenault gave the Lasers their largest lead of the game with 4:56 left on the clock, en route to the 98-63 triumph.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lasell shot 47.2% from the floor, 50.0% from three point range, and 85.7% from the free throw line in the victory. Marchand and junior forward Yordan Villalon (Miami, Fla.) led the Lasers on the glass to outrebound Albertus 47-35, and held a 20-6 advantage in second chance points.
WHAT'S NEXT
Both teams jump back into GNAC action on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. The Lasers will continue a crucial league stretch at Johnson and Wales, while the Falcons host the AMCATS of Anna Maria.