CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Gordon College received 15 points from senior Hans Miersma (Whitinsville, Mass.) and freshman Carter Bras (Coppell, Texas) as the Fighting Scots defeated Lesley University 85-52 tonight in non-conference action at the Nicholas Athletic Center in the first semester finale for both schools. The loss brings the Lynx to 1-6 on the year while the Fighting Scots improve to 3-6 overall.
Lynx sophomore Terrell Toney (Lakewood, Wash.) paced the Lesley offense with a career-high 21 points. Toney went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw stripe and added four rebounds and two steals to his line on the night. Senior Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) finished with 15 points – all coming in the second half – six rebounds, and three assists, and a game-high three strips. Senior Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) and junior Corbin Polec (Okemos, Mich.) each added six points for the hosts.
Miersma and Bras led a balanced Gordon offensive attack that saw 11 players get into the scoring column. Senior Jason Dempsey (Wallingford, Conn.) also finished in double-figures for the visitors as he finished with 12 points to go with his five rebounds. Sophomore Sam Johnson (Chatham, Mass.) came off the bench for nine points while senior Craig McFarlane (Hackensack, N.J.) chipped in with eight points in his reserve role.
The Fighting Scots, who never trailed in the game, opened up an early 7-3 lead over the first four minutes of action, but the Lynx answered with a 7-4 run to pull within one, 11-10. Toney was on fire from the get-go as he scored Lesley's first twelve points of the night. An old-fashioned three-point play by Miersma gave the guests a 16-12 edge with 11:21 to go in the first, but once again the Lynx were able to pull within one following a triple from Polec.
Following Polec's three-pointer, Gordon exhibited lock-down defense and held the hosts scoreless over the next eight minutes as the Fighting Scots would score 15 unanswered points to take a commanding 31-15 lead with 2:26 to go in the half before rolling into halftime with a 36-20 edge.
Gordon would leave their foot on the gas after the break as they would outscore the Lynx 25-10 over the first 10:30 of play in the second half. A Bras jumper with 1:24 left gave the Fighting Scots their biggest lead of the night at 85-48.
Lesley won the turnover battle, committing only nine turnovers to Gordon's 16 on the night, but the Fighting Scots used their size to their advantage as they out-rebounded the Lynx by a 52-31 margin and outscored their hosts by a 40-8 edge in the painted area. Miersma led all players with seven boards.
Both teams will be off until after the New Year. The Lynx will host Wentworth on Saturday, January 3rd at 3:00p while the Fighting Scots will travel to Worcester State on Friday, January 2nd at 7:00p.