MBBALL: Lasell Holds Off Wheaton 69-66

Norton, MA - The Lasell University men's basketball team built an early double-digit lead and held off a second-half rally from Wheaton College to earn a hard-fought 69–66 road win.

The Lasers came out strong, opening on a 4–0 run behind inside scoring from Quinton Partee Jr. and Andy Madesko. After Wheaton briefly cut the margin to three, Lasell responded with a dominant 15–2 stretch sparked by Che Hanks and Madesko, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Cameron Foster-Martez that pushed the lead to 28–12 midway through the first half.

Lasell shot  53 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes to take a 41–28 advantage into the break. The Lyons battled back in the second half, trimming the deficit to just three in the final minute, but the Lasers' defense held firm to secure their second straight victory.

Hanks led the way with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, knocking down four three-pointers while adding four steals and four assists in an all-around performance. Andy Madesko nearly posted a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while his brother Esmer Madesko contributed eight points, four rebounds, and three assists. Partee Jr. added eight points and six rebounds, and bench contributors Tyler Costin and Foster-Martez provided a spark with eight and six points, respectively.

Up Next- The Lasers will hit their home court for the first time this season on Saturday evening, taking on Wentworth Institute of Technology at the Athletic Center.