Story courtesy of Rob Palardy, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

LEICESTER, Mass. – The Lesley University men’s basketball team faced off against the top team in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Becker College and lost the Hawks 85-63. The Lynx dropped to 7-15 (4-7 NECC) while the Hawks improved to 14-8 (10-1 NECC).

Lesley junior Jesus Trejo (METHUEN, Mass./Methuen) scored a game-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and sophomore John Sanchez (CARSON, Calif./Saint John Bosco) added 14 points and four assists, but it was not enough to stop the high-powered Becker offense.

Hawks junior center Trae Jacobs (LEXINGTON PARK, Md./Great Mills) dominated the low-post with 17 points on 7-of-11 field goal attempts. Joining Jacobs with double-digit points were teammates Rajai Leggett (NEW HAVEN, Conn./Sheehan) and Mudia Osemwegie (ROSELLE, N.J./St. Mary of the Assumption) who had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Both Leggett and Osemwegie both tied for a game-high seven rebounds.

Becker got a significant contribution off the bench from Markus Wright (NEW HAVEN, Conn./Wilbur Cross) who led all bench scorers with eight points but was a defensive presence with three blocks and two steals.

With 8:42 remaining in the first half, a made jumper by Sanchez brought the Lynx to within eight points at 21-13 but Becker proceeded to go on a 15-2 run over the next five minutes of the game to take a commanding 21 point advantage. The Hawks would eventually lead 44-21 going into halftime.

In the second half, Lesley got a quality contribution from Thorton Paul (BOSTON, Mass./West Roxbury) who scored seven points in 10 minutes off the bench. Becker, however, sealed their victory by hitting 15-of-16 free throw attempts as the Hawks shot 85.7% (24-of-28) from the charity stripe.

Lesley will be back in action on Tuesday, February 16 with a road NECC game against Mitchell College starting at 7:00 pm. Becker hosts Daniel Webster College on the same night starting at 8:00 pm.