MBK: Lasell falls to UM-Farmington in 2020 opener; Vanderhorst tops Lasers with 18 points

FARMINGTON, Maine – The University of Maine Farmington had all five starters score in double figures Saturday afternoon as the Beavers defeated Lasell University, 94-76, in the first men's basketball game of 2020 in Dearborn Gymnasium.

Junior Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) led the way for Lasell with 18 points and seven rebounds, making 7-of-12 shots from the field. Junior Jonathan Friberg (North Attleboro, Mass.) added 10 points and matched Vanderhorst for the team lead with 10 rebounds. Sophomore transfer EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) made his Lasell debut and contributed 10 points, four rebounds and a team-high five assists.

UMF's starters accounted for 82 of the team's 94 points. Sophomore Terion Moss (Portland, Maine) led the way with 23 points, followed by senior Riley Robinson (Dixfield, Maine) with 18, senior Issac Witham (Smithfield, Maine) with 16, senior Bill Ruby (Gorham, Maine) with 13, and sophomore Jack Kane (Cumberland, Maine) with 12. They helped the Beavers improve to 8-3 on the season.

Lasell trailed by just five points (25-20) midway through the first half after a Vanderhorst three-pointer, and pulled to within three (30-27) four minutes later. The hosts erupted with an 18-3 surge over the next five minutes, and went to the locker room with a 48-30 advantage.

The Lasers narrowed the game to 15 points early in the second half, but the Beavers pulled away and controlled the scoreboard the rest of the day.

Lasell, which plays its first five games this month on the road, will play at Dean College this Tuesday, January 7, at 6 p.m. Dean will join the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) next season.

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