Men's Basketball Defends Home Court with 86-63 Win over Suffolk

NEWTON, Mass. (1/14/17) – A second half surge led by senior guard Armin Omanovic (Wilkesboro, N.C.) boosted the Lasell men's basketball team to an 86-63 victory over GNAC foe Suffolk University on Saturday afternoon inside the Athletic Center. The Lasers remain untouched at home at 10-5 overall and 7-1 in the GNAC, while the Rams drop to 4-11 this season and 3-5 in conference play.

Omanovic's 17 second-half points brought him to 21 overall on 8-for-15 shooting - highlighted by 15 points from three-point range – while he also dished out four assists. Followed by three additional starters in double-digit scoring, Tim Blair (Newington, Conn.) registered 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while John Powell (Ashland, Mass.) grabbed 14 rebounds and 18 points.

Michael Hagopian (Watertown, Mass.) paced the visitors' offense with 19 points, while Jonathan Eng (Wayland, Mass.) scored 10 off the bench. Hogopian and Eng were the lone Rams to reach double-digits in scoring, as Warfa Abdillahi (Brighton, Mass.) and Cameron Powers (Middlefield, Conn.) followed suit with eight.

After a back-and-forth start, the Lasers found their rhythm with five minutes left to go in the first, as a triple from junior Derek McMahon (Hatfield, Mass.) ignited an 8-0 charge, before a Powell layup gave Lasell a ten-point cushion, 33-22.

Omanovic and Blair (13 pts) were crucial pieces in the Lasers' final half of play, as the team shot 74.1% in the frame (20-of-27) to Suffolk's 43.3% (13-of-30). With the score at 59-42 in favor of the hosts, Omanovic went on a three-point tear and converted on the next 3-of-3 from downtown to put the game out of reach for Suffolk.

Both teams will hit the road on Tuesday, January 17 for a 7:00 p.m. contest. The Lasers will travel to New Haven, Conn. for a crucial conference tilt with Albertus Magnus, while the Rams head to Northfield, Vt. to face the Cadets of Norwich University.