So much for easing into the new season. The first midweek games of the 2008-2009 campaign already included thrilling finishes and surprising upsets.
None were more surprising than Lasell shocking No. 9 Brandeis 68-66 in a rematch of last year�s second round men�s tournament game on Tuesday night. Junior Sandival scored 23 points on seven three-pointers for the Lasers who shot 61 percent in the second half. Preseason All-American Steve DeLuca scored 16 points in his first game back after missing all of last season with an injury. Lasell won the GNAC last season and was picked third in the preseason coaches� poll behind Emmanuel and Emerson.
Tuesday night was also unkind to No. 10 Mary Hardin-Baylor. Nick Caputo scored 24 points and Southwestern hit its free throws to hold the Crusaders at arm's length in a 75-68 victory. Dane Seckar-Anderson scored 29 points, 15 from the free throw line, as UW-Oshkosh defeated No. 19 Lawrence 84-81. Alex Lloyd hit a lay-up at the buzzer to lift No. 13 Centre over Maryville (Tenn.) 73-71.
&&g-boxr&&On Wednesday Jordan Delp hit a dramatic shot of his own in the closing seconds to edge No. 2 Augustana past No. 22 Chicago 58-57. The Vikings led for most of the game until Matt Corning put the Maroons in front 52-51 with three minutes left to play. Delp�s shot keeps Augustana undefeated for Saturday night�s showdown with No. 1 Washington U. while No. 22 Chicago drops to 0-3.
In women's action, Mount St. Mary bounced back from its opening loss to beat No. 18 New Jersey 59-55 on Tuesday night. Hillary Klimowicz tallied 17 points, 15 rebounds and four rebounds for the Lions in the loss. No. 2 Oglethorpe raced past Piedmont 91-67, easily winning a rematch of last year's tournament game. The Petrels outscored the Lions 22-0 in fast break points.