BOSTON, Mass.  –  Freshman guard Xavier McKenzie led UMass Boston Men's Basketball with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting while gathering seven rebounds as the Beacons defeated Lesley University in the 2^nd Annual Black Collegiate Coaches Classic, 81-59, at home on Saturday night inside Clark Athletic Center.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 81, Lesley University 59

UMass Boston (2-2)

Lesley University (0-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED

UMass Boston would jump out to a 5-0 lead on a layup from senior forward Malik Lorquet and three pointer from senior guard Mariano Olivier-Rodriguez before Lesley University recorded their first basket. The Lynx would pull within two, 10-8, after a three from freshman guard Tarell Joseph at which point the Beacons would seize full control of the game.

A 7-0 run led by three different UMass Boston players would put them in front 17-8 with 11:33 left in the first half. The Lynx would continuously look to work their way back into the game, but the Beacons responded at every turn, not allowing Lesley University to get within more than five points. A pair of free throws by McKenzie would give UMass Boston their first double-digit lead of the evening, 25-15, with 7:38 remaining and a three pointer from senior guard Bryson Gulley extended the Beacon lead to 12 points later on in the half.

With 1:54 left in the first half, junior guard Bobby Joy's three pointer gave UMass Boston a 20-point lead and after a three in response by senior forward Scott Barlow, the Beacons would take a 17-point advantage, 46-29, heading into the halftime locker room.

The Beacon lead would extend to as many as 24 points in the second half, 58-34, before the Lynx would chip it down to a 14-point deficit on two occasions with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. However, the Beacon offense and press break defense would hold the Lynx at bay as they would come away with their second win of the season, 81-59.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Xavier McKenzie scored a team-high 20 points to go along with his seven boards and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line
• Malik Lorquet finished the game with a double-double, scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds on the evening, it is the third consecutive game in which Lorquet has recorded at least 10 points and 10 rebounds
• The Beacons held a 40-26 advantage when it came to points in the paint
• UMass Boston scored 30 points off 25 turnovers by Lesley University compared to eight points for the Lynx off 15 turnovers for the Beacons

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston hits the road for one more game before opening Little East Conference play next weekend at home against Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon. The Beacons will travel to Rivier University on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM to face the Raiders for the first time in program history.