MBK: Lasell downs Norwich for GNAC victory; Team effort leads Lasers

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Lasell University men's basketball team had five players score in double figures Tuesday evening en route to a 90-77 victory over Norwich University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at Andrews Gym.

The Lasers posted their third win in the last four games, improving to 2-0 in the GNAC and 5-11 overall. Norwich dropped to 0-3 in conference play and 3-13 overall.

Sophomore EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 50 percent (7-of-14) from the field. Junior Kevin Vanderhorst (Lawrence, Mass.) posted his fourth straight double-double and ninth of the season with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while junior Keith Poitier (Hartford, Conn.) added 15 points, junior Jonathan Friberg (North Attleboro, Mass.) contributed 10 points and nine boards, and freshman Demerrick Warren (Deerfield, Fla.) chipped in with 14 points off the bench.

The home team had four players score in double figures, led by junior Kyle Booth (Northfield, Vt.) with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Sophomore Donovan Lewis (Savannah, Ga.) finished with 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, classmate Samuel-Noah Osarenkhoe (Stockholm, Sweden) was good for 11 points, and freshman Benjamin Mitchell (Pooler, Ga.) contributed 12 points off the bench.

Lasell led by nine points (21-12) after a Poirier three-pointer midway through the first half. Norwich got back to within three points a couple of times, but Lasell pulled ahead by double digits (39-28) with 2:30 to go in the half after a three-ball from Warren. Booth and senior Dan Bertrand (Saugus, Mass.) hit back-to-back threes for Norwich in the final minute of the half but Day answered with a three of his own to give Lasell a 44-36 lead at the break.

The Lasers maintained the lead throughout the second half but the Cadets stayed within striking distance. Day hit a three-pointer with 10 minutes to play to push the Lasell lead up to double digits, and Norwich got no closer than nine points the rest of the night.

Lasell will look to keep the momentum going this Saturday, January 25, with a GNAC home game against Suffolk University at 3 p.m. Norwich will seek its first GNAC victory Saturday at Emmanuel College at 1 p.m.

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