Second Half Push Falls Shy in Saints 72-66 Loss at Lasell

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell Lasers shot 50.0 percent (26-of-52) from the floor, including 12-of-21 from beyond the arc, to hold off the Emmanuel Saints, 72-66, on Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

Lasell (8-6, 3-1 GNAC) improves to 2-1 in the new year with both wins coming over GNAC opponents. Emmanuel (5-9, 1-2 GNAC) has dropped four of the last five games and is still seeking their first win in 2024.

The Saints were seemingly set for a comeback win after erasing a six-point halftime deficit in the early minutes of the second half. Emmanuel entered the second half down 36-30 but a 19-8 Saints start to the second half spanning the opening 7:05 erased the deficit and led to a 49-44 Saints advantage. First-year Cameron Snowden (Franklin Park, N.J.) scored eight points in the lead-changing run.

After five straight Lasers points tied the game at 52-52, the next 4:47 of the GNAC clash was played within one possession until back-to-back Lasers three-pointers from first-year Cameron Foster-Martez (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior Marcus Lewis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) gave Lasell a 62-56 lead with 5:26 remaining.

The Saints cut the deficit back down to one possession at 62-60 with 4:34 to go, but the Lasers most pivotal run came in the final minutes, as eight consecutive points, including two made three-point shots, bumped the Lasers lead to double digits for the first time on Wednesday night at 70-60.

Despite the 10-point deficit, Emmanuel had their opportunities in the last 1:34 to overtake the lead. Senior Ryan Grijalva (Stratham, N.H.) shot 2-for-5 from beyond the arc in the next 90 seconds, leaving the Saints down 70-66. But within the span of Grijalva's made three-pointers were three missed shots from three-point distance.

A pair of free throws would finish off any chance at a comeback as Lasell held off the multiple Saints charges, on their way to a six-point victory.

Lewis scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. First-year Che Hanks (Chelsea, Mass.) scored 19 points on 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, in a full 40-minute effort. Senior Demerrick Warren (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) added 17 points, shooting 4-of-5 from three-point land.

Snowden led the Saints with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 31 minutes. Grijalva added 13 points, six assists, and five rebounds while senior Bryant Ciccio (Attleboro, Mass.) chipped in with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Saints return home for the first time in over a month for a GNAC game with Norwich on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 1:00 p.m. The Lasers play host to New England College on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in a GNAC tilt.