Buzzer beating layup lifts Men's Basketball to GNAC victory

(Newton, Mass.) The Rivier University Raiders used a fast break layup at the buzzer to defeat the Lasell College men's basketball team 62-60 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon inside the Lasell College Athletic Center Gymnasium. With the win, the Raiders improve to 3-9 overall and 2-3 in conference action, while Lasell falls to 3-8 on the year and 2-4 in GNAC play.

The Raiders were led by senior guard Jake Nelson (Nashua, N.H.) who scored a team-high 15 points and grabbed three rebounds. Freshman guard Andre Ruff (Lowell, Mass.) had 8 points and junior forward Kywane Thomas (Hartford, Conn.) netted 12 points in the win. Ruff handed out three assists, pulled down four caroms and stole the ball twice, while Thomas grabbed three rebounds himself. Junior forward Brendon Moran (Peabody, Mass.) netted 12 points going 3-for-5 from three-point territory.

Junior forward Pat Marchand (Cranston, R.I.) recorded his fifth double-double of the season and third in the last five games with 19 points, 13 boards, two blocks and two steals. Senior guard Angel Ortiz (East Lyme, Conn.) chipped in with 11 points and dished out three assists. Classmate guard Jeremy Daniel (Bridgeport, Conn.) handed out five assists of his own, while sophomore guard Yordan Villalon (Miami, Fla.) and Brock Walters (Jacksonville, Fla.) each pulled down six boards apiece.

The Lasers took a 53-49 lead with 6:14 left in the second half after a 12-3 run that was sparked by five points from Ortiz, Marchand had four and Villalon netted three points. River took a 41-34 lead after Thomas drained a jumper and a layup and Nelson nailed a deep three from three feet behind the arc.

Lasell was able to end the first half on a 5-0 run that saw Daniel hit a layup, Villalon made a pair of free-throws and freshman Dannie Moore (Orlando, Fla.) sank a free throw of his own to end the opening stanza 32-27 in favor of the visitors.

With 2:03 remaining in regulation, Walters gave the Lasers a 56-55 lead with a deep three-point shot from Daniel. Possession of the ball would trade back-and-forth until there was just 37 seconds left on the clock. Ruff converted on a pair of free-throws that brought the Raiders ahead 57-55. Marchand answered three seconds later with a layup to give Lasell the lead once again, 58-57.

With 13 seconds left, Ruff drove down the court and sank a layup. Moran added a free throw to take a 60-58 lead. Marchand's layup with seven ticks left on the clock wasn't enough as Rivier threw the ball down the court and Thomas sank a layup as time expired to give the Raiders the 62-60 victory.

Lasell shot 32.8-percent (22-for-67) from the field, 27.6-percent (8-for-29) from behind the arc, and 61.5-percent (8-for-13) from the free-throw line. Rivier shot 44.2-percent (23-for-52) from the field, 35.7-percent (5-for-14) from three-point range, and 73.3-percent (11-for-15) from the charity stripe.

The Lasers held a 41-37 advantage in rebounds and a 16-10 margin in points off of turnovers. Both squads were equal in total assists with 12 for each team.

Both teams are off until Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Lasell will host GNAC opponent Suffolk while Rivier returns home to host Saint Joseph's (Me.).