CAMBRIDGE, MA -- UMass-Boston (5-3) opened the game on a 21-6 run and used 7-15 first half shooting from distance to open a 43-29 halftime lead in besting Lesley, 88-78, Thursday night at Nicholas Athletic Center.
Guard John Sanchez (Carson, CA/Saint John Bosco) posted a double-double of 15 points and a career-high 12 assists for Lesley (2-6), breaking the school's record of 10 assists set on November 25, 2006 by Anthony Drayton.
UMass-Boston guard Jason White (Roxbury, MA/Charlestown) was the star of the night, scoring 25 points in 23 minutes and pacing the run that saw the Beacons open up a 17-point first half lead. The sophomore scored three early baskets as Boston opened the contest on a 13-3 run spanning the game's first 7:00. He hit 7-8 field goals from the floor in the first, including 2-3 from downtown, leading all scorers with 16 points as the Beacons opened up a 43-29 halftime lead.
Sanchez scored nine of his 15 in the period, playing all 20 minutes and handing out four assists to only one turnover. As a team, the Lynx were held to 31 percent (9-29) shooting for the frame, no match for the Beacons leathal attack that shot 53 percent (18-34) from the field and hit a red-hot 7-15 (46.7 percent) from distance.
Lesley's freshmen found their stroke to open the second, as first-year Grant Cobb (Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) opened the period with back-to-back treys, followed by one from Myles Mungcal (Chatsworth, CA/Chatsworth) that made it a seven point game, at 47-40 just inside the 18:00 mark. Boston's Mo Johnson (Portland, OR/Century) answered immediately with a three-pointer of his own, part of an 8-0 run that ended with one of White's two trifectas, distancing the Beacons for good.
UMass-Boston's athletic, precise attack stayed just as hot through the second, as the Beacons shot 50 percent (6-12) on three-pointers in the second and 56 percent (14-25) from the floor. For the game, the visitors shot 54 percent (32-59) overall to go with 48 percent from three-point range.
Johnson followed White in the Beacons scoring column with an equally efficient 17 points in 15 minutes. Isaac Jenkins (Pordenone, Italy/Savio Prep) followed with 15 points and a team-high five assists.
Lesley's Harold Smith (Florence, AZ/Florence) led the team with a season-high 17 points on 6-13 shooting. Guard Nicholas Sparacino (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) came off the bench for 11 points in 12 minutes, and Cobb hit 2-4 on threes for nine points.
Lesley plays host to No. 21 MIT on Saturday at 1 p.m., while UMass-Boston takes on Rhode Island College on Saturday at 3 p.m.
