Rivier Upends Lasell Men’s Hoops

Newton, Mass.- Lasell College dropped a 74-70 decision against Rivier College tonight in GNAC men's basketball action.  The visiting Raiders, who stand at 6-5 and fifth in the conference, gave the Lasers their first conference loss this season, and snapped an eight game win streak. 

In the first half, the Lasers struggled to find their shooting touch, hitting only 35.5% of their shots, as compared to Rivier's 53.8%.  Lasell trailed at the opening tap, not taking their first lead until 16:59, when a jumper by Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) put them up 7-5.  Over the course of the next five minutes, the Lasers found opportunities, predominantly from around the perimeter, but were unable to connect, and were held to only 6 points as the Raiders inched back into the lead. 

At 11:45, Lance Bisson (Nashua, NH) dropped in a bucket in the paint for Rivier to tie at 13-all.  Rivier then regained control of the scoreboard less than a minute later, and did not allow the Lasers ahead again.  Lasell kept the score close over the remaining minutes of the half, and trailed at the break by four, 35-39.    

Rivier opened the second half on a nine point run to go ahead by thirteen by 16:30.  Lasell whittled the Raiders lead back to only six with Javon Williams (Mattapan, Mass.) and Corey Godfrey (Cambridge, Mass.) stepping in off the bench for some key plays to keep Lasell in the game.

 With one minute remaining, Rivier held an eight point edge, at 71-63, after another Bisson lay-in. Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.) drilled his way through traffic in the lane to add two to the Lasers side, and cut the deficit to six.  On the next possession, Godfrey was fouled on an offensive board, and was sent to the line for double-bonus, finishing both to come within four at 71-67, and thirty seconds on the clock.

The Lasers sent Bisson to the line in the next play, who hit the first of two, and Guitian snagged the defensive board on the second.  With the seconds ticking away, Kevin Richard (New Orleans, LA) found Guitian on the baseline, putting up a nothing-but-net three to cut the Raiders lead to two, with eleven seconds to play.   The Lasers were forced to foul again as the Raiders broke their full court press and Bisson hit both free throws to seal the game for Rivier.

Bisson ended the matchup with twenty two points, nine boards, and four assists.  Poitras was a close second with 17 points and 7 boards.  Kevin Harrington (Center Ossipee, NH) finished in double-figures with twelve on the Raiders side.

Guitian ended with a game-best twenty two points, along with 13 rebounds and three steals.  Guitian also finished the game marking the history books once again for Lasell, as he became the Lasers' all-time leading scorer, completing the contest having scored 1,594 career points, breaking the previous record of 1,584. 

Sainval and Caravoulias each dropped in eleven points and five grabs off the glass, and Godfrey added eight total points and four boards in the setback.

Lasell faces another GNAC matchup on Saturday, January 31st, when they travel to Suffolk University for a 2:00 p.m. game time.