LASERS LEAD FROM START TO FINISH IN VICTORY OVER KEENE STATE

Newton, MA- Jose Guitian's (Miami, FL) 26 point and 18 rebound performance sent Lasell College past non-conference foes Keene State College, 79-70, in men's basketball action on Thursday night. The senior center also marked a prestigious career milestone in this evenings contest, scoring his 1,500th career point, and finishing just 65 points away from becoming Lasell's all-time leading scorer.

Neither team scored during the first three minutes of the contest.  The stalemate was finally broken by Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.) who penetrated from the right wing past the Owl's defender to lay in the opening points, at 17:01.  The Lasers then went up on an 11-2 run, hitting three tri-fectas in a row before Keene called a timeout. 

After the timeout, the Owls fought to keep the game within reach of the Lasers on back-to-back three's from Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) and a bucket by Tavonne Reid (Bridgeport, Conn.), bringing the Owls within four points of Lasell.  However, by the ten minute mark the Lasers had already constructed a fifteen point lead, after a traditional three point play by Corey Godfrey (Cambridge, Mass.) followed by Guitian, who put the Owls further in the hole when he connected on an uncontested lay-up, also marking his 1,500 point. 

By halftime Lasell had built a 44-25 lead.

The Lasers continued to improve on their lead going up by as much as twenty-five before the Owls made a late rally.  At 11:23, Keene went on a 15-0 run over a four minute stretch to come back within five points of the home team, but the Lasers answered with nine point run of their own take the victory.

Godfrey added 21 points for the Lasers, shooting 66% from the field and 100% from the free throw line.  Caravoulias completed with twelve points and Junior Sainval (Miami, FL) added eight.

On the Owls side, Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, VT) led their team with 20 points and grabbed 16 boards.  Senior forward Nate Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) was close behind with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Reid closed out the night with 11 points and 4 assists.

Keene State's record now falls even at 8-8 overall, and the Lasers continue to climb at 10-4.  Lasell faces Emerson College on Saturday in a GNAC showdown.  Game time is 1:00 p.m., and will be hosted at by the Lions.