Men's Basketball Falls on the Road to Lasell Tuesday Night, 71-66

NEWTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team fell on the road to Lasell University (Lasell), 71-66, during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Tuesday night inside the Lasell Athletic Center in Newton, Mass. With the result, the Blue Jays dropped to 17-7 on the season and 11-2 in GNAC play, while the Lasers improved to 18-6 overall and 11-2 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays and Lasers struggled from the floor to start the game, as the hosts held a 5-2 lead as the game reached a media timeout with 14:31 on the clock.
• Lasell began to find a rhythm, breaking open a 13-4 lead and forcing USJ to call a timeout at the 12:09 mark.
• USJ gained momentum out of the break, as a 6-2 run, featuring four points from sophomore guard Alijah Lovelace (Brooklyn, N.Y.), cut the gap to five, 15-10, with 10:09 on the clock.
• However, Lasell responded with a 7-0 stretch, increasing the lead to double-figured, 22-10, at the 9:13 mark.
• Sophomore forward Jalen Holmes (Cherry Hill, N.J.) would fire back with three straight-points, closing the deficit to 24-17, but a 7-2 Lasers run extended the lead for the hosts to 31-19 at the 5:45 mark.
• Junior wing Lence Altenor (Everett, Mass.) brought the Blue Jays back within single-digits, 34-24, with a three-pointer, as the game reached a media timeout with 3:37 on the clock.
• USJ continued to battle back, closing the half on an 11-3 run, capped off by a triple from senior guard Amadou Kamara (West Haven, Conn.) to cut the gap to three, 38-35, entering the halftime break.
• The Blue Jays continued to battle back to open the second, using an 8-2 stretch, fueled by six points from freshman guard Jakari Tertulien (Bridgeport, Conn.) to tie the game at 43-43 with 15:32 on the clock.
• The Lasers would regain the lead the lead though, holding a 51-48 edge as the game hit a media timeout with 11:59 left to play.
• USJ battled back, utilizing a 7-1 stretch, capped off by free throws from freshman forward Adelphe Cisse (Pointe-Noire, Congo) to level the game at 56-56 with 7:50 on the clock.
• The two teams continued to trade blows, as the game remained tied at 64-64 with 1:42 left to play.
• However, the Lasers would shut down USJ in the final minute of play, securing the win, 71-66.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Altenor paced the team with 24 points.
• Tertulien joined him in double-figures with 12 points.
• Tertulien also notched a double-double, hauling in 12 rebounds.
• Lasell outshot the Blue Jays, 41.8% (28-of-67) to 32.8 percent (21-of-64).
• Both teams were level in rebounds, 45-45.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out the 2024-25 regular season on Saturday, February 22, heading to New London, N.H. to face Colby-Sawyer College. Tipoff against the Chargers inside the Dan & Kathleen Hogan Sports Center is set for 3:00 p.m.

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