Men's Basketball Lose a Close Conference Battle with Lasell

NEWTON, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to Lasell University for a conference game on Wednesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 63 | Lasell University 75
Records: Blazers 9-13, 3-6 (GNAC) | Lasers 11-11, 6-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first half would begin with the two conference foes trading possession early, including a block by senior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.), until Lasell would make the first basket of the game. The two intrastate rivals would continue to trade possession until the Lasers would add a basket, but Elms would answer quickly after first year guard Jamie Lawson (Charlotte, N.C.) made a layup, after receiving a pass from senior forward/guard RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.). The Blazers offense would continue rally points following a Lawson jump shot and a layup from first year forward Jaedon Bogar (Aubrey, Texas) to take a two-point lead, but Lasell would retake the lead in their next possession after making a three-point shot. As the half would continue, Elms would regain lead after Lawson would make a pair of layups, but the two conference foes would then return to their battle, with the Blazers capitalizing on a tip-in by sophomore guard Jack Lo (Harahan, La.), Bogar blocking a layup, and Mayfield hitting a trio of jump shots to take a 18-14 lead. As the half neared its end, junior guard Arik Dagan (Southbury, Conn.) and Cancel would make back-to-back layups, followed by a jump shot from Lo and steals by Mayfield and sophomore forward/guard Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.). Then in the final minutes of the opening half, Lawson would make a layup and a three-point shot from Dagan to give Elms the lead going into the halftime break, 29-26.

The second half by the Lasers would score first and would take the lead away from the Blazers. Shortly thereafter, junior guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would then make a three-point shot, after receiving a pass from Cancel, to bring the score to within a point, but Lasell would make a three-pointer of their own to keep the lead in their favor. Moments later, Cancel would make a steal that would lead to Mayfield recording a layup, but the Lasers would make back-to-back baskets to extend their lead. As the half would continue, the Blazers would continue for an opportunity to regain the lead, with Cancel finding an open Mayfield for a three-point shot, followed by Cancel making a layup, after receiving a pass from Ciaglo, to once again bring the score to within a point, and a steal by Lo. After a few minutes of both defenses keeping the other scoreless, Elms would regain the lead after a three-point shot from Dagan, assisted by Lo, but Lasell would answer back with a three-pointer of their own and take back the lead 43-42. The Lasers offense would then score an unanswered 11-points, but the Blazers would look for an opportunity to gain some offensive momentum, with Dagan adding a steal and a three-point shot, Cancel making a pair of jump shots, and junior guard DJ Watkins (Union, N.J.) hitting a jump shot and recording a dunk. As the the clock wound down to its final minutes, Lasell would continue hold onto their lead, but Elms continue to look to get back into the conference game as first year forward/center Rayquan Anderson (Waterbury, Conn.) would make a three-point play and a layup, Ciaglo recorded a steal, Mayfield would make a tip-in, free throw, and a steal, and Watkins would add a jump shot. Unfortunately, the Lasers would defeat the Blazers 75-63.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mayfield - 14 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Dagan - eleven points, three rebounds, and a steal.

• Lawson - ten points, three rebounds, and an assist.

• Cancel - eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.

• Watkins - six points, two rebounds, and an assist.

• Ciaglo - six rebounds, three points, two assists, and a steal.

• Lo - five rebounds, four points, a steal, and an assist.

• Anderson - five points.

• Sarlan - four rebounds.

• Bogar - three rebounds, three assists, two points, and a block.

• Villanueva - a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Men's Basketball team will host Dean College for their annual Senior Day in a conference matchup on Saturday, February 14th at 1 pm.

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