SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – EJ Day led all players with 28 points as Lasell University dealt the Union College men's basketball team its first loss of the season, a 78-66 setback on Saturday evening at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
With former Union All-American and Hall of Famer Aaron Galletta '02 HOF '17 in town as head coach of the Lasers, Union recognized the 20-year anniversary of the 2001-02 team that swept the UCAA regular-season and tournament championships and tied a program-record with 21 victories. Many players, as well as head coach Bob Montana, returned to campus to see Galletta battle his alma mater.
 
Day had a day for Lasell in the victory, hitting 9-of-13 shots from the field while adding five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Kevin Vanderhorst added 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the game's only double-double, while Jonathan Friberg chipped in 14 points.
 
Senior Mike Manley led three Dutchmen in double figures with 16 points, while classmate Brian Noone and sophomore Luke McGarrity added 12 points apiece. Junior Justin Regis also chipped in five points and a game-high seven assists for Union as well.
 
Friberg hit a jumper on the game's first possession and Lasell remained in front for the next 12-plus minutes before a 9-2 run gave Union its first lead of the game, capped by a Manley jumper that put the Dutchmen up 24-21 with 7:08 left in the half. The home team held its last lead three minutes later on another Manley bucket that made the score 29-28 with 3:59 remaining, but a quick 9-0 run put Lasell back in front and the Lasers went into the break with a 42-39 edge.
 
Both teams shot the ball well in the opening half, as Lasell connected at a 56.2 percent clip (18 of 32) while Union finished at 50.0 percent (13 of 26) from the field. The percentages diverged sharply in the second half, however, as the Lasers hit 12-of-23 shots (52.2 percent) from the field while the Dutchmen hit only 10-of-35 (28.6 percent) of their attempts.
 
Union got back within a point on two occasions after three-pointers by Noone and McGarrity, but the home team could not get over the hump and retake the lead. Up by two at 59-57 with 8:08 left, Lasell got four points each from Day and Friberg as part of a 10-0 run that put the visitors up 69-57 with 5:02 on the clock, and Union could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
 
Union will take a break for finals before returning to action after Thanksgiving, when the team hosts the Sig Makofski Invitational beginning on Saturday, November 27. The Dutchmen take on Mount St. Vincent College in the second game of day one at 4 p.m.