No. 22 Brandeis Defeats Lasell in Men’s Basketball Season Opener

Waltham, MA- The Lasell College men's basketball team was defeated by the no. 22 ranked Brandeis University Judges, 90-79, in their season opener Tuesday evening, in Red Auerbach Arena. 

Lasell produced five players in double figures, led by rookie guard Lance Theard (New Orleans, LA) who put in an 18 point performance.  Sixteen of Theard's points were scored in the second half, when he went three-of-four from beyond the arc and six-of-11 overall.

Senior Guard Charles Horton (Detroit, MI) and sophomore forward Dominik Orlow (Slupsk, Poland) tallied 16 points apiece.  Horton was on point from downtown, nailing five three-pointers in the contest.  Orlow dropped in 14 of his total points in the second half as the Lasers worked themselves out of a 45-25 halftime deficit. 

The final two Lasers who hit double-digits were sophomore forward Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) and senior forward Sean Joynes (Philadelphia, PA).  Williams added 13 points and Joynes chipped in with 10.  Williams also produced a game-best four steals and grabbed three boards. Orlow and Theard tied for a team-high four rebounds in the contest.

The Judges opened the game on an 11-3 run in under three minutes, due in large part to their press which forced four early turnovers by the Lasers.   Horton put Lasell on the board with his first trifecta after a steal a minute and a half into the contest.  Unfortunately for Lasell, Brandeis extended their lead to as much as 22 points before the half, which broke at 45-25. 

Lasell remained in arrears of the home team for fourteen minutes in the second half when they took off on a streak with 5:26 on the clock, outscoring the Judges 16-2.  Lasell's press forced Brandeis mistakes which the Lasers capitalized on as they got hot from the field. The Lasers closed the gap to within eight points at 84-76 in the final minute with a Horton three, but the Judges held on for the 11 point win.

Brandeis sophomore Vytas Kriskus (Kvedarna, Lithuania) led all players with 23 points off the bench, while senior Andre Roberson (Springfield, MA) reached the 20 point plateau and added eight rebounds and seven assists.   Overall, the Judges out-rebounded the Lasers 37-22 in the game, including 10-2 in second chance opportunities on offense, and also held the advantage 24-7 from the free throw line.  

In Lasell's next contest, the Lasers will take on Cortland State in the opening round of the Williams College Tournament Saturday, at 6:00 p.m.