Men's Basketball Wraps Up Regular Season Hosting Lasell on Senior Day

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Men's Basketball team hosted Lasell University for their final regular season Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon for their annual Senior Day.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 57 | Lasell University 91
Records: Blazers 6-19, 6-8 (GNAC) | Lasers 19-6, 12-2 (GNAC)

PRIOR TO THE GAME

The Elms College Men's Basketball team their three seniors; Aaron Sanchez (the Bronx, N.Y.), Taje Green (Palm, Fla.), and Addison Phifer (Hadley, Mass.) and their one graduate student Neilon Bridgeman (Brooklyn, N.Y.), prior to the start of the conference matchup and regular season finale.

HOW IT HAPPENED

At the start of the first half, Lasell would put up the first 14 points on the board. Then, after Elms College had called a timeout, sophomore guard Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would make a three point jump shot that would be assisted by junior forward RJ Mayfield (Springfield, Mass.), followed by a layup by Mayfield. After back and forth possessions between both teams, Ciaglo would earn a defensive rebound which gave junior forward Adam Sarlan (Chicopee, Mass.) the opportunity to make a layup. The Lasers would put up some more points before Sarlan would make an offensive rebound and tip the ball into the basket. Lasell would be fouled and make both free throw attempts. Sarlan would get a defensive rebound, which helped Mayfield the opportunity to make a jump shot. Sanchez would get an offensive rebound, but then Sarlan would make a layup, would draw a foul, and would make his one free throw attempt for a three-point play. Sarlan would then record a steal the ball that would lead to him to tip the ball into the basket. Then junior center/guard/forward Edgardo Jacob Cancel (Northampton, Mass.) would make a defensive rebound, which gave the opportunity for Ciaglo to pass the ball to Phifer to make a three-point shot. After some more back and forth, first year forward Daniel Villanueva (Seymour, Conn.) would get an offensive rebound and would be able to tip the ball in. Villanueva would make another offensive rebound and Phifer would make a layup. At the end of the first half, the Blazers would keep their heads up going into the second half. Lasell would have the lead at the end of the half, 52-25.

We would see a different narrative at the beginning of the second half, where the Blazers would be the first to score. This would happen by Sarlan making a defensive rebound, which gave Jacob Canel the opportunity to make a layup. After the Lasers put up some more points Mayfield would make a jump shot. Then, Ciaglo would make a defensive rebound and pass the ball to Mayfield who would make a jump shot. After more back and forth, Mayfield would block Lasell and Sarlan would make a defensive rebound. Sophomore guard Jaiden Lopez (Lebanon, Conn.) would pass the ball to Mayfield who would make a three point jump shot for the Blazers. Then, Sanchez would steal the ball from Lasell and Mayfield would make a jump shot. The Lasers would foul Lopez, who made both free throw attempts. Lopez would steal the ball, but Lasell would foul once again, but this time it was on Villanueva, who made two free throw shots. After Lasell put up some more points, Bridgeman would steal the ball, but would be fouled and make both free throw attempts. Bridgeman would steal the ball again and Phifer would be able to make a layup. After more points made by Lasell, Phifer would have the opportunity to make a three point jump shot. Then Mayfield would pass the ball to sophomore forward/center Lawton Ackah-Yensu (Cape Coast, Ghana) would make a layup. Then Ackah-Yensu would be fouled and make both free throw attempts. The Blazers would capitalize on the Lasers fouls because Phifer would be fouled and make both free throw attempts. Then Bridgeman would get a defensive rebound, which gave Phifer the opportunity to make a tip-in him after he made an offensive rebound. Jacob Cancel would get a defensive rebound, but then the Lasers would foul him and he would make both free throw attempts. Unfortunately, that would be the last points Elms would make for the half. Lasell would take home the win, 91-57. But even with the loss, the Blazers would secure the eighth seed in the 2024-2025 GNAC Men's Basketball Tournament.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Phifer - 14 points and six rebounds.

• Mayfield - 13 points, two assists, two rebounds, and a block.

• Sarlan - 11 points, five rebounds, and a steal.

• Cancel - six rebounds, four points, an assist, and a steal.

• Ciaglo - five rebounds, three points, and two steals.

• Villanueva - four points and three rebounds.

• Ackah-Yensu - four points, a rebound, and a block.

• Bridgeman - two points, two steals, and a rebound.

• Lopez - two points, two assists, and a steal.

UP NEXT: The No. 8 Elms College Men's Basketball team will host No. 9 Mitchell College in the Play-In Round of the 2024-25 GNAC Men's Basketball Tournament on Monday, February 24th at 7 pm at Picknelly Arena.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.