Worcester, Mass. (January 14) -- On Tuesday night in Northeast-10 Conference play, the Assumption College men's basketball team dropped a 71-53 final to visiting Le Moyne College at Laska Gym. The win is just the fifth for the Dolphins in 26 tries in Laska Gym.

Over the opening 3:55, Le Moyne built a 10-4 lead following a three-pointer from senior Nate Champion, the second straight triple for the Dolphins. Assumption answered with a 10-2 run over the next 3:27 though, capped by a putback layup by junior captain Jimmy Zenevitch (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic), to put Assumption in front at 14-12. A 9-0 run for the Dolphins put the visitors in front for good at 21-14 with 6:30 left before the Hounds managed to get back to 23-19 with 4:31 on the clock.

Le Moyne closed the first half on an 11-2 run though to take an eventual 34-21 lead into halftime as the Dolphins shot 45 percent from the field in the half. The Dolphins also took advantage of 13 Assumption fouls called in the period, outscoring the Hounds 13-3 at the free throw line while also holding the hosts to just 26.7 shooting from the field in the half.

The second half was all Le Moyne as the Dolphins opened the period on an 11-3 run to push the lead up to 21 with 13:44 left following a three from junior Nate Gause. The Dolphins led by as many as 30 at 64-34 before a 17-5 run, capped by a three from sophomore Julian Aiken (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), pulled Assumption to 69-51 with just 1:34 remaining. Eighteen points proved to be the final margin as the Dolphins defeated the Hounds in Laska Gym for the second straight season.

 Aiken led the Hounds with a career-high 13 points, including three three-pointers, while Zenevitch added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Assumption shot just 28.6 percent from the field in the game, but was 17-for-20 at the free throw line and forced 15 Le Moyne turnovers. The Hounds also held a 38-30 edge in rebounding, including 18-7 on the offensive glass.

Champion was the top scorer for Le Moyne with 19 points in 32 minutes, along with 14 points and seven rebounds from senior Jim Janson and 10 points from sophomore Qwadere Lovell.

With the loss, the Assumption falls to 3-12 overall and 1-9 in the Northeast-10, while Le Moyne improves to 8-7 overall and 5-4 in league play.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, January 18th as the Hounds travel to Adelphi University for a 3:30 p.m. start in Garden City.

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