MBK: Lasers fall to Blue Jays in conference game; Vanderhorst finishes with 13 points and 9 rebounds

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University men's basketball team dropped a conference match-up to Saint Joseph (Conn.) Tuesday night in the Athletic Center as both teams entered the game undefeated in conference play.

The Lasers fall to 8-12 overall and 5-1 in conference. The Blue Jays of Saint Joseph improve to 18-2 overall and remain perfect in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) at 6-0.

Junior Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the loss for the Lasers. Sophomore EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) led the home team with 15 points and four assists.

Sophomore Jaecee Martin (Hartford, Conn.) found his rhythm offensively for the visitors with 16 points. Martin shot 6-9 from the field and nailed four threes in the win. Junior Jordan Powell (Middletown, Conn.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Blue Jays started off hot in the first five minutes of the half by going on a 9-0 run before a pair of free throws from junior Keith Poitier (Hartford, Conn.). Saint Joseph would extend their lead by 19 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half. Vanderhorst managed to produce seven straight points for the Lasers to reduce the Blue Jay's lead but the visitors continued to score and entered the break with a 40-19 advantage.

Saint Joesph opened up the second frame by outscoring the Lasers 12-7 within the first five minutes. Martin continued to find his way to the rim for the Blue Jays and they increased their lead to 61-31 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. The Blue Jays closed out the game strong with a final score of 94-57.

The Lasers will play at Colby-Sawyer College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 8. The Blue Jays will face Saint Joseph's (Me.) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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