MBK: Lasell's strong second half propels them to victory in GNAC opener

Nashua, N.H. – Senior Kevin Nunez (Dorchester, Mass.) scored a career high 34 points to propel the Lasell University Lasers men's basketball team to an 86-71, Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over Rivier University at Muldoon Center.

Nunez scored his 34 points on 15-25 from the field and brought down 14 rebounds for the double-double. Senior EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) was the only other Laser starter in double figures with 20 points. Freshman Conan McCusker (Dorchester, Mass.) scored 15 points off the bench.

Senior Miles Gillette (Washinton, D.C.) led Rivier with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Nikolas Pignone (Stoneham, Mass.) was the only other Raider in double figures with 12 points.

The first half belonged to the Raiders although the first eight minutes were tight. With just over eight minutes gone in the half, only one point separated the two sides, before three consecutive threes, the first by Gillette and the last two by sophomore Ethan Hutchinson (Tilton, N.H.) gave Rivier a 10-point lead in the blink of an eye. Lasell clawed their way back in it a three by McCusker and another three-points off McCusker free throws started a 8-0 run for the Lasers. The teams continued to trade baskets throughout the rest of the half in which Rivier took a seven-point lead into the locker room

Unlike the first half, the second half was completely in favor of the Lasers. Day and Nunez combined to outscore Rivier by six in the quarter and the Lasers shot 56.4 percent (22-39) from the field in the second half. Lasell also took excellent care of the ball only committing two turnovers while collecting eight steals in the half. With this dominance, it was not until halfway through the second half that Lasell started to pull away, only holding a one-point advantage after the 10-minute mark. Following this Lasell went on a 9-3 run the next two minutes only and followed that up with a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to grab a 20-point lead. The Raiders were able to draw slightly closer getting the lead down to 15 with 1:41 left to go, but that was as close as they could get.

Lasell shot the ball better at 44.6 percent compared to Rivier at 36.6 percent and dominated in points in the paint and points off turnovers scoring 42 and 22 respectively.

Lasell will be back in action on Tuesday, December 7, when they travel to nearby Brandeis University. The game is scheduled to begin a 7:30 p.m.