Jan. 17, 2009

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Lasell Lasers overpowered the Emmanuel Saints, 75-61, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Saturday afternoon. With this win, the defending GNAC champs remain perfect in conference play (5-0) and improve to 8-4 on the season. The Saints had won four-straight games, including three GNAC wins in a row, before falling to Lasell on Saturday. Emmanuel is now 6-7 overall and 3-3 in the league.

Lasell opened the game with a three-pointer from senior guard Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.), and the Lasers never looked back. Lasell jumped out to a quick 17-5 lead at the 13-minute mark, when Caravoulias hit his third three-ball in the seven-minute span. Emmanuel was able to stay in the game early, as Lasell's 16 first-half fouls sent the Saints to the line 18 times in the opening stanza. Emmanuel drained 13 of 18 (72%) attempts from the free throw line in the first half.

The Lasers led, 34-29, before senior forward Jose Guitian (Miami, Fla.) sunk a three to end the first half and put Lasell up, 37-29, heading into the locker room. Senior forward Mack Spellman (Cliton, N.Y.) kept Emmanuel alive in the first half, as he posted a double-double in the opening period with 11 points and 10 boards, including 5 on the offensive end.

The Saints kept it close to open the second half with Spellman and Guitian exchanging buckets. Lasell began to pull away with 14 minutes to go, as the Lasers led, 45-36. A fastbreak threeball from Kevin Fallon (Manasquan, N.J.) gave Lasell a 54-38 lead and forced an Emmanuel timeout with 12:52 to play.

Beginning at the 14-minute mark, the Lasers went on a 14-4 run that spanned six minutes and found themselves up 19 points with 8:47 remaining in the game. The Lasers' largest lead of the game (23 points) came after a Guitian jumper, which put Lasell on top 67-44 with 5:35 to play. Emmanuel never got close again and Lasell picked up the 75-61 victory.

Guitian led all scorers with 22 points on 7 for 15 shooting, while also grabbing14 boards and dishing out 5 assists. Caravoulias finished with 17 points and 3 assists, while freshman point guard Kevin Richard (New Orleans, La.) chipped in with 10 points and a game-high 6 helpers.

Spellman led the Saints with 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Isaiah Duke (Albany, N.Y.) added 10 points, collecting 8 of them on the free throw line. Despite out-rebounding the Lasers, 54-38, the Saints committed 20 turnovers and ended up sending Lasell to the line 24 times for the game.

Both teams will play again on Monday (1/19). Emmanuel will travel to Standish, Maine to take on the Monks of Saint Joseph's College in a 3pm start. Lasell will host Mount Ida College in a 7pm tip.