KEENE, N.H. (February 27, 2025) – The UMass Boston men's basketball team fought hard until the end against the LEC's top team, the Keene State Owls, as the Beacons ultimately fell short on the road to conclude a memorable 2024-25 season. First-year Raphel Laurent (Peabody, Mass.) submits his Rookie of the Year campaign by leading the charge offensively for the Beacons, scoring a team-high 23 points among four total Beacons in double figures.

How it Happened:

First Half:

• Laurent's opening three-pointer matched the Owls' pace out of the gates. A transition layup from Emanuel Zayas (Hollywood, Fla.) brought the Beacons to within one of the Owls in the early minutes of the opening.
• Mark Barrett's (Brookline, Mass.) layup and Xavier McKenzie's (Lowell, Mass.) free throw gave the Beacons 10 points, before the team fell out of their groove and the Owls went on a 3-22 run over the ensuing six minutes.
• UMass Boston kept the gap to 20 through inside scoring from McKenzie, Laurent, and Anthony Gauthier (Jaffrey, N.H.), keeping the Beacons competitive despite the deficit.
• A pair of good free throws from Barrett and first-year Davon Sanders (Mansfield, Mass.)  set up McKenzie's layup, which led to Barrett's inside finish for the final Beacons' basket of the first half.
• McKenzie led all Beacons' scorers in the first half with 11 of the 32 total UMass Boston points.

Second Half:

• The Beacons continued to find success in the paint, scoring the first three baskets inside to remain within 20 points of the Owls to begin the second half.
• With another perfect trip at the line for McKenzie, a three-pointer from Sanders cut deeper into the deficit as the Beacons continued to compete against the Owls.
• Back-to-back baskets from Barrett continued to spark life into the UMass Boston offense.
• Laurent and Sanders scored on three straight possessions to bring the Beacons back to within 11 with under nine minutes remaining.
• The Owls struck from beyond the arch again, and foul trouble put them on the line for three consecutive possessions, putting them back ahead by 17 with six minutes remaining.
• Another Sanders three-pointer and Laurent fastbreak layup kept the Beacons comeback hopes alive, with three minutes remaining and down by 13 points.
• Laurent's perfect trip at the line would be the final points of a stellar run from the Beacons, as the Owls finished the final minutes strong to conclude the Beacons' season in Keene, N.H.

By the Numbers:

• Laurent's 23 led four Beacons in double figures. McKenzie followed suit with 18 points on 7-16 shooting from the field. Barrett added 12 points in 28 minutes with five made field goals. Sanders delivered 10 points on an efficient 3-6 from the field and 2-2 from the line, including 2-3 from downtown.
• Gauthier led the Beacons' rebounding efforts with six offensive boards and four defensive for 10 total in 30 minutes off the bench. Gauthier also forced two steals.
• Along with Barrett's 12 points, he also pulled in six rebounds and a team-high three blocks.
• The Beacons had the advantage in points off turnovers (9-3), second chance points (15-11), points in the paint (48-30), and tied the Owls in fastbreak points (17-17).

With that, the Beacons conclude the 2024-24 basketball season with an admirable run, as several key core players potentially play their final games in the Beacons' threads. UMass Boston will return next winter for another deep run in the LEC season. Until then, for all things UMass Boston Athletics, stay tuned at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website.