LEICESTER, Mass. – Becker College defeated Lesley University 54-48 this afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference men's basketball action at the Leicester Gymnasium. The win improves the Hawks to 7-4 on the year and a perfect 2-0 in conference action while the Lynx fall to 1-10 overall and 1-2 in the NECC.

Lesley senior Justin Rosa (East Brunswick, N.J.) led the Lynx with 14 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double with nine caroms. Rosa has recorded double-digit point totals in five of the last six games. Classmate Nikalus Oliver (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) finished with 13 points and eight boards while sophomore Terrell Toney (Lakewood, Wash.) joined Rosa and Oliver in double-figures with 12 points. Sophomore Jacob DiDomenico (N. Providence, R.I.) recorded led the team 11 rebounds to go with four points off the bench for the Lynx.

Becker senior David Maturah (Windsor Locks, Conn.) led the Hawks with 12 points and displayed great defense with a game-high four blocks. Fellow senior Donovin Ford-Hayes (Windsor Locks, Conn.) recorded 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists on the afternoon while junior Rashaun Liggon (Elizabeth, N.J.) finished with seven points and a game-high 13 boards.

The first half was back-and-forth that saw the two sides swap leads six times. The Lynx trailed 23-19 with just over six minutes to go in the first half, but Lesley put together a 5-0 run on a layup by Matt Gianoni (Berlin, Conn.) and a Toney triple. The lead did not last long, however, as the Hawks ended the first half on a 7-0 run to enter the break with a 30-24 edge.

Late in the second half, Becker opened up their biggest lead of the game at 43-35 following a Salimo Fofana (Bronx, N.Y.) bucket with 7:45 to go. The Lynx climbed back to within two, 45-43, with an 8-2 run that saw four different Lynx record points with 3:32 left in the game.

With just under a minute to play, the Hawks held on to a 50-46 edge before a Rosa layup once again pulled the Lynx to within two, but Becker hit four free throws in the final 25-seconds to hang on for the 54-48 win.

The Lynx will return home on Tuesday when they host Wheelock College in NECC action at 8:00p. The Hawks will also return to NECC on Tuesday when they travel to Elms College. Tip-off is set for 5:00p.