NEWTON, Mass. – Senior forward Aaron Williams (Springfield, Mass.) poured in a career-high 42 points, including 33 in the first half, to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's basketball team to a 93-88 victory over host Lasell University this evening at the Lasell Athletic Center in Newton, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 3-3 on the season, while the Lasers fall to 3-3.

Williams was 12-18 from the floor for an efficient 66.7% clip and converted 14 of 16 free throws. In addition, he ripped down a career-high 18 rebounds. The forward's effort was truly historic given that his point total is the second-highest in a game in school history and the most-ever by a Lyon front court player. He also sank the fifth-most free throws in a game for a Wheaton player and his rebound total ties for the fourth-most in a game for the Lyons. Unofficially, his 33 points in the first half could represent the highest total in a half for any player in school annals. Williams' point total is the eighth-highest for any Division III player in a game this season, while his made free throw count stands as the fifth-most for any D3 player in the nation this year. 

Wheaton shot 48.5% (32-66) for the game, while Lasell posted a respectable 45.5% (30-66) mark from the field. The Lasers came undone at the free throw line, however, making 19 of 32 tries for a 59.4% success rate.

Williams wasn't the only Lyon enjoying an exceptional outing with senior guard Alex Carlisle (Saint Johnsbury, Vt.) netting 25 points and dishing out a career-high eight assists to go with two rebounds and a pair of steals. Senior guard Evan Cook (Dunstable, Mass.) contributed with 13 points on 4-7 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers, and added five rebounds, an assist and a steal. First year guard Eoin Morrissey (Watertown, Mass.) contributed with a personal-best 10 rebounds in addition to two points, two assists and a steal.

Graduate student guard EJ Day (Norwalk, Conn.) led Lasell with 28 points, six assists and four steals to go with a rebound, while Quinton Partee Jr. (Roswell, Ga.) netted 10 points, grabbed six boards and came up with a steal. Jonah Cattaneo (Montpelier, Vt.) came off the bench to chip in with 10 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Wheaton owned a 56-44 lead at the intermission and later maintained a 61-50 advantage with 17:36 to play in the second half. The Lasers put together a 19-4 stretch, fueled by nine points from Day, to give them a 69-65 lead with 12:03 to play in the game. 

Lasell increased its margin to 77-71 with 8:57 showing on the second half clock, but the Lyons went on a torrid 17-1 run, paced by eight points from Carlisle, to give them an 88-78 cushion with 3:12 remaining in the contest. The Lasers chipped away with six of the next seven points, including a trifecta from Day, to cut the deficit to 89-84 with 36 ticks left to play, but it was as close as the home team would get.

Wheaton took an early 12-4 advantage behind a pair of three-balls from Cook within the first three minutes of the game. Lasell responded with a 10-4 burst, including five points from sophomore forward Aidan Morin (Brooklyn, Conn.), to pull to within 16-14. The Lasers stayed within a bucket after a Morin layup (25-23) at the 12:38 mark of the opening half. 

Senior guard Marckenley Lima (Roslindale, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer for the Lyons to give them a 30-23 lead with 11:39 to go in the half, but a layup from graduate student forward Almando Marinez (Lawrence, Mass.) cut the margin to 42-39 with 5:10 left in the first half for Lasell.

Williams asserted himself with nine points during a 12-1 blitz to give Wheaton a 54-40 lead with 2:01 remaining in the opening half, before the Lyons took a 12-point lead into the break.

Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, December 3 when it hosts Trinity College (Conn.) for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off at Emerson Gymnasium, while the Lasers host Worcester State University on December 1 at 7:00 p.m.