MBB: Tufts pulls away and downs Lasell

NEWTON, Mass. – Tufts University had five players score in double figures and went over the 100-point mark for the first time this season Thursday evening as the Jumbos defeated Lasell College, 101-90, in non-conference men's basketball action at the Lasell Athletic Center.

Lasell junior Stefan Masciarelli (Northbridge, Mass.) led all scorers with 31 points and nine assists, including his 1,000th career point. A free throw in the first half pushed him over the 1000-point mark for his collegiate career (including seven points at Assumption College before he transferred to Lasell), and a basket in the second half pushed him over the milestone mark in a Laser uniform. He ended the night with 1,016 points for his Lasell career and 1,023 in NCAA play, the 15th player in program history to reach the barrier.

Sophomore Luke Rogers (Boxborough, Mass.) led the Jumbos with 21 points and 13 rebounds, making 8-of-12 shots. Junior Eric Savage (South Brunswick, N.J.) added 19 points, sophomore Justin Kouyoumdjian (La Canada, Calif.) finished with 18, sophomore Brennan Morris (East Hampstead, N.H.) was good for 14, and freshman Carson Cohen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

Joining Masciarelli at the top of the scoring column for Lasell was sophomore Liam Jacobs (Plainfield, Conn.), who scored 20 points after a career-best 6-for-6 effort from three-point range. Sophomore Dylan Murray (Williston, Fla.) added 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, and classmate Vic Collazo (Clearwater, Fla.) chipped in with 13 points.

Tufts upped its record to 11-12 overall, while Lasell dropped to 6-16.

The Jumbos pulled out to a double-digit lead midway through the first half and led by as many as 16 points, but Lasell battled back to cut the margin to 12 at the break. The Lasers used the hot shooting from Masciarelli and Jacobs to pull to within four points (69-65) with 15 minutes remaining, and came within two points (73-71) with 13 minutes to go.

Tufts answered with six consecutive points, and maintained a single-digit lead the next six minutes. Lasell was within four points (84-80) with eight minutes to play, but another six-point Jumbo run pushed the margin back up to 10 points two minutes later. The Lasers would not go away, and got within two possessions (93-87) with three minutes to go, but the Jumbos proved too strong and went on to the 11-point victory.

The Lasers returns to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action this Saturday, February 9, with the Senior Day contest against Albertus Magnus College at 4:00 p.m. at the Athletic Center. Tufts wraps up its regular season on Sunday, February 10, traveling to Trinity University for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.

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