The men’s basketball team played their home opener Wednesday against the Babson Beavers. Although the game was very engaging for fans to come out and watch, the Lasers ultimately lost 76-65.
Starters were graduate student EJ Day, sophomores Marcus Lewis, Aiden Morin, Gabe Qua, and first-year Jonah Cattaneo. “It was definitely a surreal experience for me, and a moment that I won’t forget. Although we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, it was a good learning opportunity for me and the team,” said first year Cattaneo after his debut.
The Lasers got a hot start from a roaring crowd around them. Fans swung all the way around the upper track wearing white for team spirit to show their support.
Senior Andrew Kirkpatrick of Babson was able to make the first three-pointer of the game, but during the first half, the home team held the lead a majority of the time. Midway, the Lasers held a solid 17-15 lead. Conan McCusker kept energy high for the Lasers, making a three-pointer from the right wing side, and making the free throw followed by a foul from junior Stephen Watson.
Following the four point turnover, at 5:39, the Lasers received a team technical foul arguing with the referees on an offensive foul call on Day, as he was going into the hoop with the ball. A minute and a half later, score now reading 25-20 Lasers, Qua came in from the left side corner for a wide open dunk past Babson graduate student Ryan Cibull.
High on energy from some amazing offensive plays, not letting adversity get the best of them, the Lasers ended the first half up 37-32.
Going into the second half, the game flipped. The Beavers took early control going on an 11 point run in the first two minutes.
The Lasers fought back with their own 6-0 run, eventually tying things back up in the first five minutes. Play would go back and forth between the two teams before the Beavers took another 13 point run with seven minutes left remaining in the game. Always answering back, the Lasers went on a 13-4 run attempting to take that lead back, but couldn’t quite get it done.
The Beavers pulled away with the lead and ultimately won 76-65.
The difference in game was turnovers, the Lasers having 26 compared to the Beavers 13, along with having 16 offensive rebounds. Even though the Lasers ended with a higher three point and field goal percentage, the Beavers took 79 shots, 29 more than Lasell.
Game leaders for the home team were EJ Day with 29 points going 12-13 from the free throw line, and Gabe Qua with 10 rebounds. Babson was led by sophomore Nate Amando with 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lasers will take on New England College in Henniker, NH, this Saturday, Nov. 12, at 4:00 p.m.
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