Story courtesy of Alan Wickstrom, UMass Boston Athletic Communications Director

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore guard Jermaine Harris (HAVERHILL, Mass./Haverhill) scored a game-high 19 points and junior forward Jesus Trejo (METHUEN, Mass./Methuen) posted a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lesley University men’s basketball team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 75-63, this evening at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston. The Lynx improve to 3-7 on the season, while the Beacons fall to 3-6.

Lesley shot 52.4% (22-42) from the floor for the game, including 56.3% (9-16) in the second half.

UMass Boston held a 50-43 lead with 11:56 showing in the second half, but the Lynx went on a blistering 13-0 run, fueled by eight points from Harris to take a 56-50 lead with 7:49 left in the second half. The Beacons responded with a 7-2 stretch, capped by a three-pointer from junior guard Mo Johnson (PORTLAND, Ore./Century) to pull them to within 58-57 with 3:30 to go in the game, but Lesley put the game away, scoring 11 of the next 13 points, to take its largest lead of the night at 69-59 with 35 seconds remaining.

The Lynx took an early 6-4 margin with 16:20 to play in the opening half, before UMass Boston reeled off nine straight points to take a 13-6 advantage with 11:32 showing on the first half clock. The Beacons later maintained 20-13 lead with 8:41 left in the half, but Lesley put together a 9-0 run, paced by five points from sophomore guard Bryant Itonyo (MEDFORD, Mass./Medford) to reclaim the lead at 22-20 with 6:36 to go in the first half. UMass Boston reclaimed the lead during a 7-0 burst to take a 27-22 advantage with 3:54 left in the period. The Lynx came right back, closing out the session with a 12-6 stretch, led by six points apiece from Trejo and Itonyo, to take a 34-33 edge into the break.

The Beacons outscored the visitors, 17-9, to open the second stanza, led by six points from junior forward Pat Joseph (QUEENS, N.Y./Springfield Gardens) to give them a 50-43 lead.

Harris got most of his points from the line, going 10-12, while adding four rebounds, an assist and a game-high four steals for Lesley. Trejo was 8-11 from the floor in addition to dishing for an assist and blocking a shot. Itonyo finished with 13 points, including a perfect 3-3 from three-point range and added a rebound and a steal.

Joseph led UMass Boston with 17 points on 7-12 from the field to go with nine rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks, while senior forward Ernst Jean (MALDEN, Mass./Malden) netted 14 points on 5-8 shooting, grabbed nine boards and blocked two shots. Johnson ended the evening with 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists and freshman guard Ashston Bennett (DORCESTER, Mass./English) contributed with a season-high 10 points in addition to two rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The Beacons will be in action again in their last contest before the break, taking on Little East Conference foe Rhode Island College on Saturday, December 12 in Providence, RI at 3:00 p.m., while the Lynx travel to play MIT on December 12 at 2:00 p.m.