SEASON PREVIEW: Men's Basketball Selected Fifth in GNAC Preseason Poll

NEWTON, Mass. -- The Lasell College Men's Basketball team is picked to finish fifth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon.

Lasell will open the 2017-18 campaign with a tough non-conference slate. On Wednesday November 15th, the Lasers travel 15 minutes down the road to face defending national champion Babson College. The Beavers were selected seventh in D3Hoops.com's preseason national rankings, including two first-place votes.

Nichols travels to Lasell on November 18th as the Lasers tip-off versus the Bison at 3:00p.m. in their home opener.

Other highlights to the Lasers non-conference opponents include a road trip to Keene State on November 28th, before hosting Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on December 2nd and Amherst on December 9th.

Keene State, MIT, and Amherst are all coming off NCAA Tournament appearances, and each received votes in preseason national rankings.

The Lasers finished the 2016-17 season 19-9, including the 14-4 in conference play. Lasell made a deep conference tournament run before falling 101-83 to Albertus Magnus in their second GNAC Championship appearance.

On January 3rd, 2018 the Lasers open conference play as they travel to Paxton, Mass. to face Anna Maria before hosting crosstown GNAC rival Mount Ida on January 6th at 3:00p.m.

Lasell will get their shot at redemption from last season's conference championship, when they travel to Albertus Magnus in their lone match-up of the season. The Lasers will also face Johnson & Wales, who they beat 68-61 in last year's conference semifinal, twice in a span of two and half weeks. Lasell will travel down to Providence on January 13th before hosting the Wildcats on January 30th.

Head coach Aaron Galletta enters 12th season at the helm of the Lasers. Since his arrival in Auburndale, Lasell has boasted a 156-145 overall record, including 117-77 in conference action.

Junior Tim Blair (Newington, Conn.), a GNAC Third Team All-Conference selection a year ago, will also look to lead the Lasers' offense this season. Blair finished his sophomore campaign with 370 points, 70 assists, and a conference eighth-best 140 rebounds.

Seniors Derek McMahon (Hatfield, Mass.) and Dannie Moore (Orlando, Fla.), who have been selected as captains this season, will also be expected to contribute on both sides of the ball for the Lasers.

To view the Lasers full 2017-18 schedule, please click here.

2017-18 GNAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Albertus Magnus (9) - 118

2. Johnson & Wales (1) - 103

3. Mount Ida (1) - 91

4. Saint Joseph's Maine - 83

5. Lasell - 79

6. Regis (Mass.) - 62

7. Emmanuel - 57

8. Norwich - 50

9. Suffolk - 44

10. Anna Maria - 23

11. Rivier - 16