Men's Hoops Stages Late Comeback to Take Down Worcester State 67-53

NEWTON, Mass. (12/1/16) -- The Lasell College men's basketball team earned its second straight win in its closest contest of the season to date Thursday night, surging in the second half for a 67-53 decision over non-conference opponent Worcester State University in the Athletic Center.

With the win, Lasell jumps back over the .500 mark at 3-2. WSU is still looking for its first win as it stands 0-5 on the season.

Senior Armin Omanovic (Wilkesboro, N.C.) led the Lasers with a game-high 27 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including three, three-pointers. Senior John Powell (Ashland, Mass.) posted another double-double, scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds while also contributing three assists. Junior Scott Arsenault (Walpole, Mass.) also hit double figures with ten points, including a pair of threes.

A pair of Lancers reached double digits in the contest as freshman Cal Howes (Maynard, Mass.) recorded 13 points and junior Corey Gatta (Sturbridge, Mass.) posted ten, including two threes. Gatta also paced WSU with eight rebounds and four assists.

Junior Mickey Lyons (Burlington, Mass.) scored a pair of two-pointers as the visitors jumped out to a 10-1 lead, but Lasell surged back to a 13-10 lead as Powell recorded a layup and two free throws quickly thereafter.

The visitors finished the first half with a 27-26 lead before Lasell responded with five of the first six points in the second to take a three-point lead. Omanovic sank his third of three triples in the contest to end that stretch with 17:26 left in the second half.

The game featured six ties and 12 lead changes in the end, but Lasell staged a furious comeback in the second half and held a 41-26 scoring advantage. Arsenault hit a jumper with 6:20 remaining to give Lasell a 51-50 lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

Arsenault's shot began a 14-0 run that spanned until less than 90 seconds remained and also included one of his two, three-pointers. Lasell used 16 free throws in the second half to help put the game out of reach, eight of which came from Omanovic.

The Lasers return to GNAC play on Saturday, December 3 when they visit Emmanuel College in Boston for a 1:00 p.m. contest. The Lancers' next game is at Wheaton on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.