FRANKLIN, Mass. – November 15, 2021 – The Dean College men's basketball team scored 54 points in the paint in Monday's 81-65 non-conference victory over Lesley University.  

Dean improves to 3-0 and will welcome Mitchell on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to Pieri Gymnasium. Lesley drops to 2-3. The Lynx have a quick turnaround and will host Norwich tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Junior Mark Blair (Rosedale, N.Y.) posted his third straight double-double for the Bulldogs with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Winston Bryan (Greensboro, N.C.) added 22 points and was 10-10 from the free throw line. Senior Nick Sampeck (Blanco, Texas) also reached double figures with 11 points, while senior Traijan Powell (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Lesley was led by freshman Gabe McCrary's (St. Louis, Mo.) 25 points. Junior Michael Langford (San Diego, Calif.) recorded a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Kyle Murphy (West Warwick, R.I.) scored 10 points before fouling out.

The Bulldogs outscore Lesley 54-24 in the paint and turned 22 Lynx turnovers into 25 points. Dean shot 47.8% from the floor and held Lesley to 37.1%.

The first 10 minutes of the contest was back and forth leading to a 20-20 tie midway through the frame. Dean then went on an 8-0 run, capped by a Sampeck jumper, to take a 28-20 lead with six minutes to play in the half. The lead ballooned to nine before Lesley crawled to within six, but a Blair jumper in the paint put Dean on top 40-32 at the break. Blair had 14 points for Dean, while McCrary scored 16 in the half.

The home team pushed its advantage to 21 with 12:21 left in the game and never looked back. The Lynx made a late run to pull within nine, 72-63, after a made three-pointer from Christian Castro (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 4:36 on the clock. Dean responded to finish the game on a 9-2 run to secure the 81-65 victory.