Nationally Ranked Falcons Edge Men's Hoops 96-86

NEWTON, Mass. (2/4/15) – The Lasell College men's basketball team fell to Albertus Magnus, ranked No. 7 in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, 96-86, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Wednesday evening inside the Lasell College Athletic Center Gymnasium.

The Lasers were paced by senior Brock Walters (Jacksonville, Fla.) who scored a season-high 23 points, while junior guard Richard O'Brien (Manchester, N.H.) also tallied 23 points this evening. Walters shot 7-for-10 from the field, 6-for7 from long range and 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.

Freshman guard Scott Arsenault (Walpole, Mass.) contributed 19 points and dished out three assists. Senior guard Jeremy Daniel (Bridgeport, Conn.) handed out a team-high eight assists and recorded one steal, while junior guard Pedro Pabon (Queens, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points. Rebounds were spread evenly across the squad as each member of the team who played this evening pulled down at least one carom.

Senior forward Victor Ljuljdjuraj (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Falcons with his 13th double-double of the season with a game-high 28 points and 14 boards. Ljuljdjuraj also blocked three shots and had three steals. Classmate guard Julian Sanders (Trumbull, Conn.) and freshman guard Lex Perez (Waterbury, Conn.) each tallied 14 points in the victory. Senior guard Eian Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 12 points and dished out a game-high nine assists, while classmate forward Lemer Larsen (Waterbury, Conn.) contributed eight points and nine rebounds.

Albertus Magnus jumped out to an early 13-3 lead after Ljuljdjuraj sank a three-pointer and Larsen gained an advantage to throw down a slam dunk from senior guard Tavon Sledge (Spring Valley, N.Y.). After the Falcons gained a 21-9 lead, the Lasers went on 14-8 run to cut the deficit to six points (29-23) with 12:26 left in the first half. The spurt was sparked by back-to-back three's from Walters and three's also from Arsenault and Pabon.

With 3:40 remaining in the first half and the score 39-30 in favor of the visitors, O'Brien, sophomore forward Yordan Villalon (Miami, Fla.) and Walters each netted three-pointers for the Lasers to pull within three points (45-42). O'Brien converted on three straight free throws to close the opening stanza to pull the Lasers within two points (47-45) for their closest margin of the game.

Both teams traded baskets over the opening minutes of the second half. Lasell took their first lead of the game, 53-51, after O'Brien converted a layup with 16:16 left in the game. The Lasers maintained their advantage over the next five minutes of action and gained their largest of four points (59-55) after Pabon sank a deep three with 12:10 left in the game.

With 11:46 remaining in the second half, Davis tipped in the tying basket to even the score at 59-59. Lasell answered with back-back free throws from Arsenault to take another two point lead, 61-59. Albertus Magnus went on a 13-8 run to take a 79-68 advantage with 6:30 left in the game. The Lasers were able to cut the deficit to single digits (79-70), but it wasn't enough as the Falcons held on to defeat Lasell, 96-86.  

Lasell shot 44.6-percent (25-for-56) from the field, 55.2-percent (16-for-29) from long range and 74.1-percent (20-for-27) from the free throw line. Albertus Magnus shot 55.0-percent (33-for-60) from the floor, 57.1-percent (8-for-14) from three point territory and 62.9-percent (22-for-35) from the charity stripe.

Albertus Magnus held a 41-27 advantage in rebounds and a 23-6 margin in points off of turnovers, while Lasell maintained a 38-25 edge in points off of the bench.

Lasell (5-13, 4-8 GNAC) heads to Mount Ida on Saturday for a GNAC matchup with the Mustangs at 1:00 p.m., while Albertus Magnus (18-1, 12-0 GNAC) hosts Suffolk in conference action on Saturday with tip-off slated for 3:00 p.m.