CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lesley University men's basketball team had their home opener spoiled by Endicott College as the Gulls raced to a 95-44 win tonight at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols. Endicott's balanced offensive attack that saw 14 different players score was led by sophomore guard Drew Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn.) who finished with high 17 points as the Gulls open up at 1-0 for the third straight season. With the loss, the Lynx fall to 0-3 on the young season.
Lesley senior Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) led the Lynx in scoring for the second time this year as he finished with 12 points while grabbing five rebounds and swiping a game-high five steals on the night. Fellow senior Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) went 4-of-5 from the field on his way to a career-best ten points while sophomore Terrell Toney (Lakewood, Wash.) finished with nine points and nine boards. Fellow sophomore Corbin Polec (Okemos, Mich.) knocked down two triples on his way to eight points on the night for the hosts.
Sawyer was efficient en route to his game-high total as he finished 6-of-8 from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 mark from beyond the arc. Senior John Henault (Lunenburg, Mass.) finished the night with 13 points with seven rebounds while sophomore Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) was the third Gull in double-figures as he chipped in with 12 points to go with six boards. Sophomore point guard Max Motroni (West Warwick, R.I.) set up the offense as he led all players with six assists.
Endicott was ferocious under the basket, out-rebounding the Lynx by a 61-34 margin - including a 22-6 edge on the offensive glass – and outscored their hosts 36-18 in the paint. The Gulls were also dangerous from deep as they connected on 13-of-30 three-point attempts on the night.
The Gulls opened the game with an 11-2 run capped by a Walker Jumper, but the Lynx answered right back with an 8-2 spurt over the next three minutes to cut the lead to 13-10. Rosa sparked the Lesley run with three straight free throws before Corbin Polec finished it with a triple from the wing.
Endicott held a 23-18 edge with 5:27 to go in the half before Walker ignited another Gulls streak with a three-pointer that led to a 17-2 stretch to as the guests closed out to the half with a 43-20 lead. Sawyer knocked down a pair of treys to power the run while Walker put an end to the half with a made jumper with just two-seconds to go.
The Gulls did not take their foot off the gas after the break as they opened the second stanza on a 16-2 and they did not look back as they rolled to the 95-44 win.
The Lynx will have a twelve day break before they travel to Plymouth State University for a non-conference matchup on December 1st. The Gulls will travel to Waterville, Maine on Friday for a pair of games at the Colby Classic.