Lasers Fall to Babson 76-72 at Home

NEWTON, MA - The Lasell men's basketball team was defeated by Babson College, 76-72, in a non-conference game tuesday night at the Lasell College Athletic Center.

Junior captain Sean Bertanza (Seymour, CT) led the way for the Lasers with a season and game-high 25 points. Senior captain Javon Williams (Mattapan, MA) was the only other Laser to score in double figures with 12. Juniors Arthur Alexander (Port Lucie, FL) and Sonny Mello (Fall River, MA) as well as senior Nate DiSessa (Westfield, MA) all chipped in with nine points each.

The first half between the teams was even throughout with each team trading baskets early on. Bertanza paced the Lasers scoring 11 of the team's first 15 points. The Beavers jumped out to a 21-11 lead midway through the half as their height posed somewhat of a problem for Lasell. Babson was a force in the paint grabbing offensive rebounds and continuously getting to the free throw line. Lasell used timely turnovers and outside shooting to claw their way back into the game. The Lasers went on an 18-7 run and went into the half leading 29-28. Bertanza accounted for more than half of the team's points scoring 16 points in the half.

Babson forward Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, NY) scored six of Babson's eight buckets to start the second half, giving them a 42-36 lead with 16:13 to go. The run continued as David Mack (Holden, MA) and Alex Rudolph (Bar Harbor, FL) each scored on layups pushing the score to 46-39 with 15:13 left. With 9:52 left, Lasell sophomore guard Brock Walters (Jacksonville, FL) drew a foul on Babson center John Wickey (Manchester, NH). Walters hit two free throws making the score 57-51, Babson. A steal and layup by Alexander made the score 59-55 until Babson guard Matt Palazini (Franklin, MA) responded with a three which was then answered right away with a three from Bertanza with 7:13 left.

Two made free throws by Lasell center Frank Apisa (Branchburgh, NJ) made the game 66-62 with 5:07 left but Babson guard Marcus McDermott made a shot and hit a free throw after getting fouled by Lasell guard Brandon Ganesh (Wellington, FL) pushing the score to 69-62. Two more free throws by Bertanza made the score 69-64 Babson with 4:46 left.

After the teams traded free throws, Lasell put on the full court pressure forcing Babson to turn the ball over twice, but the Lasers could not capitalize, leaving the score 73-68 with 2:26 left in the game. Williams knocked down two free throws with 1:19 left in the game to cut the Babson lead to three, 73-70. Then a steal by Williams led to Alexander getting fouled while  he attempted a layup. He hit his two free throws cutting the lead to just one. Alexander stole a full court pass with 28 seconds left, but a crucial turnover gave Babson the ball. Lasell fouled immediately and Babson forward Peter Foley (Wells, ME) hit one of two free throws leaving the score at 74-72 with 12.2 seconds left. DiSessa attempted a pass to Bertanza only to see it sail out of bounds giving the ball back to Babson with 7.3 seconds left. Babson hit two free throws and Bertanza missed a contested layup to end the game.

Braithwaite led the Beavers with 23 points and a game-high 9 rebounds. Mack scored 13 points and McDermott poured in 12. Despite Babson having nine players over 6'4", Lasell outrebounded the Beavers 24-13. Lasell went 23-24 from the free throw line but could not capitalize on the 16 turnovers by Babson.

 Lasell will look to rebound at home Nov. 29 against Amherst College at 8 p.m.

--story courtesy of Victor Olowojoba