EASTON, Pa. - Men's basketball began the inaugural Lafayette Classic with a 75-56 victory against Long Island on Friday afternoon in Kirby Sports Center.
Lafayette's top performance came through senior center
Justin Vander Baan, who contributed 18 points, four rebounds and four blocks. With today's quad of stops, he ranks fourth all-time in Lafayette's career blocks (112) while only wearing the Maroon and White for two seasons.
Devin Hines (12) and
Malik Rasul (11) also finished in double figures as the Leopards shot 47.9 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from 3-point range. Lafayette also recorded a season-high 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the charity stripe.
The Sharks opened with a 15-6 run to the 13-minute mark, which was quickly overtaken by the Leopards' 12-0 spurt.
Andrew Phillips and Hines kicked off a Lafayette advance to 31-22 using back-to-back 3-pointers. The Maroon and White hit four-of-five from long range in that stretch to stay ahead with 4:12 left in the half.
A pair of free throws from Mark Butler secured a 35-26 advantage going into the locker room.
Lafayette started the second half by stretching its lead to 45-32 at 15:55, knocking down four-of-six from the floor.
Vander Baan, who missed the previous four games due to injury, captained the Leopards through the following stretch as the Sharks were unable to cut the 10-point gap, 53-43 at the 10-minute mark.
The hosts continued to forge ahead using five points from Hines to hold a 70-54 lead at 5:13. Lafayette closed out the contest thereafter with a game-high 19-point advantage, 75-56.
Malachi Davis led the opponent with 16 points, shooting 40 percent on 15 attempts from the field and an added pair from beyond the arc.
Lafayette won the battle under the defensive net with 37 rebounds to Long Island's 32.
The 2024 Lafayette Classic has a four-team field featuring Long Island, Niagara and Binghamton. The programs are scheduled to play doubleheaders on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lafayette hosts Niagara tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in the second contest of the day. Niagara bested Binghamton, 65-62, in the first game of the tournament..
For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.
