Non-Conference Tussle Does Not End in Lasell’s Favor

NEWTON, MA- After eight ties and 11 lead changes in Tuesday night's non-conference men's basketball matchup between Lasell College and Keene State, the outcome shone in favor of the visiting Owls, 81-69, at the final buzzer.  

The Owls had a dozen players contributing points, led by junior forward Derek D'Amours (Agawam, MA) who lodged 15 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-5 from downtown. Classmate Ollie Hunter (Bedford, NH) locked in 13 points for the victors, as well as a contest-best nine rebounds.  Towering at 6'10", sophomore forward Rashad Wright (Agawam, MA) made 4-of-5 attempts, good for eight points while also grabbing seven boards and making three blocks for the evening and sophomore guard Ryan Martin (Wayne, ME) put away nine points for Keene.

A quartet of players did the significant portion of the work on the scoreboard for Lasell. Junior forward Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) outscored all players in the contest, yielding 21 points. He also gathered eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and four steals in this noteworthy performance.  Sophomore guard Sean Bertanza (Seymour, CT) supplied 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to the Lasers' efforts.  Forwards Derrick Harper (Boston, MA) and Robert Roy (Dover, NH) delivered 12 points each, while Harper also garnered six rebounds and two steals. 

Lasell grabbed possession off the tip and got a hoop from Harper on the deep elbow to get underway. Cody Snow (Leyden, MA) retaliated on the Owl's end of the court with a layup easily leveling the score. Uninterrupted three's by Jordan Fuller (Oviedo, FL) and Roy gave the hosts at 8-2 edge just 1:30 into play but two uncontested layups by Hunter on Keene's end closed the gap to two by 17:17. 

The Lasers' edge improved once more on a back-door lay-in by Bertanza at the 16 minute mark, but back-to-back offensive put-back's by John Boyatsis (Dover, NH) and Martin evened the score at 10-all by 14:47.

Lasell hung in and recovered control of the scoreboard for the subsequent three minutes before a Boyatsis three pointer from the corner gave Keene their first lead of the game, 19-18, at 11:24.  Following a minute and a half of scoreless play, a Williams fast break made way for Lasell's return to the top. Their advantage was short lived, however, as Hunter drained a three, and the visitors proceeded to enjoy the lead for the next five minutes. 

With five minutes remaining in the half, Williams hit a jump shot at the elbow to bring Lasell within one point. An ensuing steal by Williams on defense led to Bertanza getting fouled beyond the arc.  Three netted freebies later, the Lasers had re-secured the lead, 30-28.  Additional buckets by Harper and Bertanza checked the Lasers' 9-0 run to take  a six point edge. 

An 8-0 stretch by Keene followed, complete with five points by D'Amours, to turn the tables once more. A Harper tip-in on an offensive board knotted the score at 36-all with one minute to go in the half.  Two free throws by Keene's Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, CT) and a final hoop by Lasell's Zachary Campbell (Cape Coral, FL) completed scoring for the period at 38-all. 

Keene State utilized their bench thoroughly in the half, grossing 23 points from seven of their replacement players.  The Owls also won the battle on the boards in the half, taking down 22 rebounds as opposed to Lasell's 16.  Hunter had a team-best nine points at the half but 10 total Owls had amassed points. 

The Lasers were led by Williams and Harper with 10 points each in the period and Bertanza was close behind with nine.  Lasell only received three second-chance shots on offense in the period, partially due to shooting 50% as a team in the period, converting on 16-of-32 chances from the floor. 

A scoreless minute passed in the tie game before Roy floated in a shot from short range at 18:31 to give Lasell the first advantage of the period. At the 17 minute mark, Geoffrey Woodberry (Hyde Park, MA) put in two for the Owls to level the score, once more, at 40-all.  

The teams traded baskets and leads through the 13th minute, at which point Lasell opened up a 13-2 run to take a 10 point lead, 59-49, at 10:28.  Roy strung together seven consecutive points in that span which culminated with a Fuller steal at midcourt, turned three-point play. 

In a game of streaks, Keene did not disappoint, holding the Lasers scoreless for the next four minutes while they closed the gap to two points, 59-57.  With 5:04 left to play, Hunter pulled up for a jump shot which gave Keene back the lead, 64-63. 

The Owls wavered between a one and three point lead through the next three minutes but a 10-0 run capped with a dunk by Wright over the final two minutes sealed the final decision.

Lasell's shot percentage dropped to 35.5% in the second period while Keene's improved to 50%. Throughout the contest, Keene out-rebounded the Lasers 48-35 and held a narrow 45% shooting to Lasell's 43% overall. 

Keene improves to 11-5 with the win while Lasell falls to 4-10. 

The Lasers return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday, January 22nd at 1:00 p.m. at Rivier College.