BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Nate Amado (Hanson, Mass.) led four players in double figures with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists to help Babson College defeat visiting Lasell University, 86-53, in non-conference men's basketball action on Wednesday night inside Staake Gymnasium. 

With the win, Babson opens the season at 1-0 while Lasell starts 0-1. 

Graduate student Steph Baxter (Worcester, Mass.) scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, sophomore Tyler Lauder (Malvern, Pa.)  scored a career-high 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and classmate Jeremiah Paul (Los Angeles, Calif.) came off the bench to contribute a career-best 11 points and three assists for the Beavers. Fellow sophomore Timmy O'Toole (Milton, Mass.) led all players with nine rebounds and three steals, while Amado chipped in with three steals. 

Junior Greg Farrow (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 16 points and classmate Marcus Lewis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) chipped in with 11 points and three assists to pace the Lasers. 

The Green and White used three-pointers from junior Aidan Horan (Orchard Park, N.Y.), Amado and Paul to build a 16-4 lead less than six minutes into the contest. Lasell got back within seven twice before Amado capped an 8-0 spurt with two straight hoops to extend the margin to 28-13 at the 7:55 mark. 

Lewis cut the Lasell deficit to 31-20 with a triple just over two minutes later but the Beavers got six points from Amado and a bucket apiece from Lauder and Baxter as part of a 10-1 run to make it 41-21 at the break. Lauder scored on consecutive possessions to open the second half and senior John Gorgol (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Baxter and Horan buried consecutive three-pointers to extend the Babson lead to 54-26 with 16:09 to play in the game. 

Junior David Cross (Cinnaminson, N.J.) and Paul canned back-to-back triples pushing the bulge to 69-35 at the 11:21 mark, and the Green and White took its largest lead of the night at 83-43 on a hoop by Paul with 3:50 remaining. 

The Beavers shot 49.3 percent for the game and 56.7 percent in the second half while knocking down 13 three-pointers. They also finished with a 45-34 edge on the glass and scored 21 points of 16 turnovers by the Lasers. 

Both teams return to action on Saturday as Babson travels to Albertus Magnus at 3 p.m., while Lasell hosts Fitchburg State at 4 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are now 19-3 all-time against Lasell and have won seven consecutive games in the series at home. 
•    Babson has opened with a victory in each of the last five seasons and 15 of the last 16 years going back to 2008. 
•    The Beavers are 46-3 when outrebounding their opponents dating back to the start of the 2019-20 campaign. 
•    The Green and White has won 12 of 14 games when forcing 16 or more turnovers since the start of last season.