Lakers Survive Crosstown Trip Against Saint Xavier

CHICAGO – Sangolay Njie rejected a desperation shot at the buzzer to preserve Roosevelt's 69-67 win over Saint Xavier on Saturday in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup.

After surrendering 11 of the first 13 points, the 20^th-ranked Lakers (12-2, 6-0 CCAC) found their groove with five points in a minute. It would take until 6:30 was left in the half for Roosevelt to tie the score as a part of a 10-0 run that gave the Lakers their first lead of the game. Forte Prater and Njie both had eight points in the opening half to pace Roosevelt, which shot just 36.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

It was a different story in the second half as Roosevelt went on an early 8-0 to take the lead for good. The Lakers extended their advantage out to 12 midway through the second half and topped out at 13 with eight minutes remaining. It then turned into a defensive battle with the teams combining for seven points in the final 4:08 after Prater gave the Lakers a 67-62 lead.

Prater finished with 24 points to lead the way for Roosevelt, making 8 of 17 from the floor, including 5 of 8 from behind the arc. Njie was the only other Lakers player to eclipse double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds in the win. Julio Montes II, who grabbed a critical defensive rebound late then sank a pair of free throws with seven seconds left, added nine points and six assists.

The Lakers return home Wednesday evening to start a mini two-game homestand with a 7 p.m. matchup against St. Ambrose at the Goodman Center.