MBB: Late Lasell Rally Falls Short in 102–96 Loss at Middlebury

Middlebury, VT — The Lasell men's basketball team traveled north to face Middlebury on Saturday afternoon and put together a determined, wire-to-wire effort, but ultimately came up short in a hard-fought 102–96 loss.

Lasell battled throughout the opening half but struggled to keep pace as Middlebury's efficiency on the offensive end allowed the Panthers to gradually pull away before the break. The Lasers showed fight early and continued to attack offensively, trading baskets through the opening minutes. Esmer Madesko set the tone with an outstanding first-half performance, knocking down 7-of-8 shots from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc to lead all scorers with 16 points. Che Hanks complemented the effort with nine points, consistently finishing on strong drives while stretching the defense with his perimeter presence. Andy Madesko controlled the tempo and filled the stat sheet, contributing 6 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, helping Lasell generate extra possessions and transition opportunities. Despite competitive stretches and solid work on the glass, Lasell was unable to string together consecutive defensive stops in the closing minutes of the half, allowing Middlebury to extend its lead and take a 55–36 advantage into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Lasell responded with urgency, steadily chipping away at the deficit. The Lasers found rhythm offensively, sparked by Hanks aggressive shot-making and Esmer Madesko's scoring touch. Andy Madesko continued to facilitate and finish in key moments as Lasell clawed back into contention. A series of clutch baskets and defensive plays allowed the Lasers to trim a once double-digit deficit to just four points in the final minute, cutting the score to 97–92 and putting pressure on the Panthers late. Forced to foul in the closing seconds, Lasell sent Middlebury to the free-throw line, where the Panthers converted enough attempts to hold off the rally and secure the 102–96 victory. Hanks finished with 22 points, while Esmer Madesko led all scorers with 26 points and Andy Madesko's all-around effort anchored the comeback as Lasell showed grit and fight until the final horn. 

Up Next- The Lasers return to action on Monday, January 5, when they travel to Brandeis for a non-conference matchup