Men's Basketball: Lasers suffer 73-55 setback to Johnson & Wales

NEWTON, Mass. - Senior guard EJ Day finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists Saturday afternoon for the Lasell University men's basketball team during a 73-55 loss in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action to Johnson & Wales at the Athletic Center.

Graduate student Kevin Vanderhorst, who reached 1,000 collegiate points in a win Thursday at Elms, finished with eight points and nine boards for the Lasers (12-8, 9-5 GNAC). Senior guard Kevin Nunez compiled eight points and eight boards, shooting 4 of 8 from the field.

Josh Zangerle recorded a game-high 31 points and tied a game-best 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (8-9, 6-5 GNAC). He shot 10 of 17 from the field, 7 for 11 on 3-pointers and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.

Zangerle scored five points in the opening 3:39, as he helped the visitors race out to a 9-0 lead. The hosts reponded with a 7-2 surge and a three-ball by Day cut the deficit to 11-7 with 12:45 remaining in the first half. A 3-point shot by Andre McFadden gave the Wildcats a 39-19 cushion going into halftime.

Johnson & Wales built a 23-point lead with 12:29 remaining in the second half. Lasell came to within 14 twice down the stretch. A three-ball by sophomore forward Tate Niemela cut the deficit to 61-47 with 7:59 showing. An 8-0 run gave the Wildcats some breathing room, as a trey by Zangerle put the visitors in front, 69-47, with 4:58 on the scoreboard.

Lasell won the second half, 36-34, headlined by a 14-point effort by Day. The Lasers led points in the paint, 18-14, assists, 14-10, points off turnovers, 17-14, and bench points, 19-17.

The Lasers will host No. 7 Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a GNAC game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Athletic Center.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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