Fleming, Rams Shoot Past Lasers in Overtime

Box Score

Boston, Mass. - Junior Mike Fleming (Exeter, N.H.) made a clutch three-point shot with :25 seconds remaining in the second half to force overtime, as the Suffolk University Rams (5-5, 1-2 GNAC) beat the Lasell College Lasers (3-6, 1-2 GNAC), 84-74 on Saturday afternoon.

Fleming took a pass from freshman Colin Halpin (Melrose, Mass.) then shook off a Lasers' defender to hit the game-tying shot and force overtime. Fleming finished the game 5-for-5 from beyond the arc and finished the game with a season-high 16 points to give the Rams their first win in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play this season.

The Rams managed to overcome a 10-point deficit within the final four minutes of the second half, before outscoring the Lasers 18-8 in the extra period.

Sophomore Mike Gibbons (Ringwood, N.J.) finished with a team-high 18 points, hitting all six free throws he took in the overtime period, and connected on four three-point field goals in the first half as the Rams took a 39-33 edge heading into the halftime.

Lasell was able to stretch their lead to as many as ten points, going on an 18-2 run in the second half. The Lasers held a 63-53 lead with 4:38 remaining in the game after sophomore Dominik Orlow (Slupsk, Poland) hit a jumper. Sophomore Javon Williams (Mattapan, Mass.) scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as well. Williams finished the game with a double-double as he also had 13 rebounds to go along with his 20 points.

Freshman Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, Mass.) posted his sixth double-double of the season as he scored 17 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Halpin finished the game with seven boards for the Rams and was also chipped in with five points, while sophomore Sam Hutchins (Andover, Mass.) had eight rebounds, with four points and a team-high four assists. The Rams were able to get their offense going late in the second half with the help of sophomore Luke Barrett (Cincinnati, Ohio) who provided seven points off the bench, including hitting a clutch three-pointer with three minutes left which helped swing the momentum back in the Rams' favor.

Lasell got 17-point efforts from both freshman Lance Theard (New Orleans, La.) and senior Charles Horton (Detroit, Mich.).  Both Theard and Horton were able to stretch the Lasers' offense as the two connected on three shots from beyond the arc each.

Both teams will continue conference play on Tuesday. Lasell will host Johnson & Wales University at 6:00pm. Suffolk hosts Emannuel  College at 7:30pm at the Regan Gymnasium.