SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior guard Jaime Crawford (Coral Springs, FL) scored 25 points with eight rebounds and junior forward Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) added 12 rebounds as Lasell defeated Union, 64-54 in men's basketball action at the Viniar Athletic Center Wednesday night. The Lasers improved to 2-2 on the season while Union, playing the home opener of the 2007-08 campaign, fell to 1-2.

 

The game marked the return of Aaron Galletta, Union's second all-time leading scorer and an All-American for the Dutchmen, who is the head coach of Lasell.

 

Sean Joynes (Philadelphia, PA) scored 10 points for the Lasers, who shot 43% for the night including 58% in the second half to erase a 30-25 Dutchman lead. Union was led by junior guard Steve Madej (Burnt Hills, NY), who had 23 points, while senior center Kyle Grimm (Sherrill, NY) scored 10 points and added three steals for the Dutchmen.

 

Union shot 35% on the night, including 27% in the second half when the Lasers had a 39-24 advantage. The Lasers hit 88% of their free throws while the Dutchmen were 77% from the line. Lasell had a slight advantage on the boards, 34-33.

 

Union held Lasell to 32% shooting in the first half en route to the five point lead entering the break. The teams were tied at 25-25 but the Dutchmen went on a 5-0 run to end the first half. Union led by as many as seven at 38-31 when Grimm made a layup with 17:59 left in the second stanza. But the Lasers took the lead for good at 43-42 when Joynes made a jumper with 10:18 remaining during a 12-4 run. In the next 7:30, the Lasers took command with a 14 point lead at 60-46 with 2:48 to play, the largest lead of the night.

 

The Lasers forced 19 turnovers on the night, including seven in the second half, and had seven steals. Delon McAllister (Irvington, NJ) added nine points with eight rebounds for the Dutchmen, and made all seven of his free throw attempts.

 

Union plays a non-league game at Middlebury, Saturday, December 1 at 3 p.m. Lasell hosts St. Joseph's (Maine) Saturday at 2 p.m.