NEWTON, Mass, (1/5/17) – The Lasell College men's basketball team garnered its first win of the New Year on Tuesday evening, defeating the Raiders of Rivier University 83-58 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action inside the Athletic Center.
The Lasers remain undefeated in conference play at 4-0 and advance to 7-4 overall, while the Raiders dip to 1-10 this season, and 0-4 in the GNAC.
The hosts led from start to finish in the 2017 opener, shooting 46.8% overall from the floor to keep their undefeated home-court streak alive at 5-0. Lasell held a 49-36 advantage in team rebounds, led by 11 apiece from senior forward John Powell (Ashland, Mass.) and Yordan Villalon (Miami, Fla.). Defensively, Powell recorded eight (of nine) blocks in the effort, just two away from the Lasell all-time record.
Two-time GNAC player of the week Armin Omanovic (Wilkesboro, N.C.) exploded for 21 second-half points to lead all players with 23 points overall on 6-for-13 shooting from the floor and a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Tim Blair (Newington, Conn.) was close behind with 20 points – a career high for the sophomore – while Powell topped off double-digit scoring with 13 and his sixth double-double of the season.
Freshman Keith Poitier (East Hartford, Conn.) paced the Raiders in both halves, finishing with 11 points overall. Poitier was the lone Raider to score in double-digits, as Lasell yielded the visitors to just 34.7% overall.
Lasell used 50% shooting from the floor to gain a ten-point advantage at the end of the first half, 36-26. In the early stages of the stretch, the Lasers would lead by as much as 17 points before the visitors ran with a closing 11 points to shrink the deficit. Villalon added eight points and eight rebounds to lead Lasell into the second segment, while Powell and Blair split six apiece.
Blair and Omanovic came blazing into the second half, pushing Lasell to an early 14-4 run to force a Raiders' timeout. Lasell went on to score another 15 points to Rivier's seven, highlighted by seven points from Omanovic, before closing out the 83-53 victory.
Both teams will jump back into conference play on Saturday, January 7, as the Lasers travel to Anna Maria for a 3:00 p.m. tip, while the Raiders host Albertus Magnus at 1:00 p.m.