Lasers Oust Monks in GNAC Quarterfinals; Advance to Semifinals at Emerson

STANDISH, ME- Sixth-seeded Lasell College ousted no. 3 Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 75-70, in the quarterfinals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night.  Lasell freshman guard Justin Harris (New Orleans, LA) paced the Lasers with 21 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists in the upset victory.

Lasell shot 49.2% (30-61) from the field, 60% (9-15) from beyond the arc and 75% (6-8) at the free throw line, while St. Joe's shot 42.6% (29-68) overall, 25% (5-20) from three-point distance, and 70% (7-10) from the line. The Lasers held a narrow 34-33 advantage on the glass and both teams collected 15 offensive boards in the playoff contest.

Neither team got off to a good start, as the squads combined for a 5-17 (29.4%) effort from the floor with five turnovers in the first 4:35 of play. The Monks were the first to score after Zach O'Brien (Schenectady, NY) slashed through the lane for a bucket, but Harris closed the two-point deficit with a layup of his own.  The teams remained evenly matched, with the hosts producing their highest lead of just four points, with 11:33 in the clock, after an 8-2 run capped with four points by Julio Vazquez (Waterbury, CT).

St. Joe's advantage was short-lived as the Lasers proceeded to score six unanswered points and gained the lead, 17-16, just over ten minutes into the first half.  Five points by Harris and a trifecta by Brett Heimann (Miami, FL) left the Monks trailing the Lasers, 32-25, at the five minute mark.  A10-5 advantage in scoring over the final minutes of the half gave Lasell an 11 point lead at the break, 42-31.

A 13-4 run started the second stanza in favor of the hosts, who came up with some big plays at key moments to come within two points of the Lasers' advantage, 46-44, with 15:40 remaining.  Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) ended a two-minute scoring drought for the Lasers with a bucket in the paint, followed with a long-ball shot from Charles Horton (Detroit, MI) to pull Lasell ahead by five points. With ten minutes left to play, Lasell returned to a seven point edge, 55-48.

Though the teams traded baskets for much of the second half, the Lasers never relinquished or shared the lead.  Dominik Orlow (Slupsk, Poland) came up with a pair of huge three-pointers for the visitors to take the wind out of the Monks' sails over the final eight minutes. Lasell held a narrow three point lead with 1:30 on the clock, but Orlow found a small opening on the baseline to drain his second three to put the Lasers up by six.

Saint Joseph's responded with an O'Brien layup to cut the lead to 71-67, but Williams was fouled and converted on both free throws to lift the Lasers back to a six point spread.  A three by O'Brien with five ticks remaining on the clock left the Monks with little hope of a comeback.  Lasell's freshman guard Lance Theard (New Orleans, LA) sealed the Lasers victory with two final freebies, giving Lasell a five point cushion with three seconds left.  The Lasers held tight for the upset victory, 75-70.

Rashon Jones (Bridgeport, CT) and O'Brien paced the Monks with 13 points apiece in the season-ending loss.  Rue, Kelley and Petzy all netted nine points and Eatmon tallied six points, six boards, six assists and four steals.

For Lasell, Orlow netted 16 points, Williams added 14 points and nine boards and Horton posted 12 points off a four-for-six effort from three-point range.

Lasell, now 11-15 overall, will face no. 2 Emerson College on Thursday, February 25^th in the GNAC Semifinals. Tip-off is posted for 7:00 p.m.