Lasers Blaze Past Mustangs

After six lead changes and five ties in the first half of the Lasell College men's basketball contest against Mount Ida College, Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.) opened the second period by firing in 4 consecutive three-pointers to take control of the game and lead the Lasers past the Mustangs, 86-70. 

Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) started the contest with a quick five points for the Lasers after a three pointer followed by an offensive put-back on the next possession.  The Mustangs kept in step with Lasell, not allowing for more than a five point advantage over the first six minutes, then tied the game for the first time, at 13:23, on after a rebound and the bucket by Darren Martinez (Mattapan, Mass.).  Mount Ida  took their first lead of the game, at 16-14, a minute later when Matt Bennett (Rochester, NH) put back his own miss, laying in two points. 

In the subsequent possession, Guitian knocked down a three point play to regain control of the board for Lasell.  Martinez answered by draining a three at which point the Mustangs pushed to keep the Lasers down.  Using a full court trap to give Lasell trouble, the Mustangs took advantage of successive turnovers and grabbed their biggest lead, going up 27-22 with just over six minutes in the half.

The back and forth affair continued as Lasell recovered from the deficit after Charles Horton (Worcester, Mass.) converted on a trey and Joey Vento (Weymouth, Mass.) nailed a jumper from the baseline to go up, 29-27. Mount Ida went ahead just once more with a bucket from Bennett, but the lead was short lived.  Kevin Fallon (Manasquan, NJ) and Horton each drained shots from far downtown in the final minute, giving the Lasers a seven point edge heading into the locker room, 42-35.

Caravoulias, having only connected on one field goal in the first stanza, was clutch from behind the arc, going 4-4 in the first three minutes of the half, stretching the Lasers' lead to eighteen, by 17:29.   The Mustangs did not recover, and the Lasers went up by as much as twenty-one before the final buzzer sounded, at 86-70.

Caravoulias finished with 21 points, nineteen of which were scored in the second half.  Guitian held a game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds.  The senior center also had 6 blocks and 5 assists in the contest. Also hitting double figures was Horton, who ended the night with 12 points and 4 boards.

On the Mustangs side, Bennett put up 18 points and picked up 9 boards, while Martinez picked up 12 more points and 8 grabs off the glass. The Mustangs also held a 51-39 rebounding margin, due in large part to Otis Thompson (Gardner, Mass.) who collected 15 board, including five offensive.

Upon victory this evening, the Lasers remain undefeated at 7-0 in the GNAC, while the Mustangs fall to 0-6.  Lasell picks up non-conference action on Thursday, January 22nd when they host Keene State College.  Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.