11/29/22
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Fresh off their Thanksgiving break, the Lackawanna College Falcons men's basketball squad has an intense game to welcome them back, when last year's Region XIX champion, Delaware Tech, comes to town on Tuesday, November 29^th.
 
The game is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gym. The game is open to the public, and will have tickets sold at the door for both students ($3) and adults ($5). The match-up will have a video livestream available at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, for a fee. Steve Young will serve as the play-by-play broadcaster.  
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (4-2, 0-1) couldn't hang on to a halftime lead in its last game, as the visiting Essex County College Wolverines shot 55% from the field and put up 57 points in the second half to run away with a 98-80 victory in the Region XIX opener for the Falcons at home last Tuesday. Nasir Brown led the Falcons with his season-high 25 points, 17 coming in the first half, and the Falcons held a lead that swelled as big as eleven in the first half, before taking a six-point advantage into the break, thanks in part to energetic defense and patient offense. The second half saw Essex turn the tables, upping their intensity and knocking down shot after shot to pull away. Read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 78 points per game this season, allowing 75.8 points per game on the year. The 98 that Essex scored was the most the Falcons have allowed in their first six games, and they've given up 90+ points in two of their last three games. The Falcons are shooting 43.6% from the field, but have struggled from deep, hitting just 28%. Lackawanna gets to the free throw line a lot, having made almost as many free throws as a team (108) as their opponents have attempted this year (128). Lackawanna is shooting 63% from the free throw line. The Falcons average 38 rebounds per game, a -0.5 average, and they have forced an average of 17 turnovers per game, with just under ten steals per contest for the Falcon defense. Opponents are shooting 41% from the field this season, and have hit 31% of their three-point attempts.  
 
Nasir Brown (Wilmington, DE) leads the Falcons in scoring at 18.7 points per game on the season. He's second on the team in rebounding (5.0) and leads the team in 3PT FGs made (10). Brown is tops on the team in FT% (76%). Brown is second on the team with eleven steals this season. He's hit double-figures in five of the first six games, including scoring his season-high of 25 points against Essex in his last game. Brown hit a season-high ten shots from the field, and had four steals, tying a season-high.
 
Malek Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is second on the team with 12.0 points per game this season. Mims leads the Falcons in steals (15), and averages 3.5 rebounds per game from his point guard spot. Mims has hit on 42% of his shots this season, and leads the team in assists (18) and steals (15). Mims has scored in double-figures four times this season, going for his season-best 20 points against Dundalk. In that game, he went 7-for-10 from the field, while pulling down six boards and compiling six steals. Against Essex, Mims had eleven points and was an efficient 4-for-7 from the field, including two three-point shots. He also had four assists and a pair of rebounds. After hitting just two three-pointers in his first four games (2-for-10), Mims has hit four threes in his last two (4-for-9).  
 
Aamir Mack (Atlantic City, NJ) is third on the team in scoring, averaging ten points per game. Mack averages just shy of five rebounds per game, and hits around 47% of his shots from the field. Mack is second on the team in free throw shooting, hitting 68.4% from the charity stripe this year. Mack has hit for double-figures in points three times this season, going for his season-high of 17 points in the opening contest against CCBC Catonsville. His best rebounding output was his seven boards against Baltimore City CC. Mack had 12 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench for the Falcons, shooting 5-for-11 from the field. In his last game, Mack had eight points, all coming in the first half, and had four rebounds, two assists, and a season-high three blocks against Essex.   
 
Caleb Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is fourth on the team at 9.8 points per game this year. Mims is second on the team in assists (17), and averages 3.3 rebounds per game. Mims shoots 38% from the field, and leads the Falcons in made free throw shots (25), shooting 66% overall from the line. Mims has scored in double-figures three times this year, and went for his season-high 16 points against SUNY Rockland. Mims had a season-best five assists in the win, and hit a season-high four shots from the field, while going 7-for-12 from the free throw line. Against Essex, Mims had 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting, while dishing out five assists and grabbing three rebounds.   
 
Rahmad Ali (Newark, NJ) is averaging 7.3 points per game this season, while also pulling down just shy of five rebounds per game, tied for third on the team. Ali is third on the squad with 13 assists, and is fourth on the team in steals (6). Ali is shooting around 50% from the field this year, and is shooting 43% (6-for-14) from downtown this season. Rahmad has gone for double-figures twice this season, and had his best game against Essex, scoring a season-high 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting, including a pair of three-point shots. He also had four rebounds against the Wolverines. Ali did not play last season for the Falcons in their two games against Delaware Tech.  
 
Nashawn Johnson is averaging seven points per game this year, and has been mostly the sixth man for the Falcons before starting his last two games. He's first on the team with 6.3 rebounds per game, and is shooting around 40% from the field so far this season. Johnson scored his season-high with 14 points in the win over Rockland, pulling down ten rebounds for his first double-double of the year. Johnson was an efficient 5-for-7 from the field. Johnson had four points and six rebounds, as well as a pair of assists, in the game against Essex. Johnson had a combined 21 points and eleven rebounds in the two games against Delaware Tech last year, including 17 points and seven rebounds in the game in the Lackawanna Student Union in February last season.  
 
Niare Poplar (Philadelphia, PA) has so far been one of the better bench players for the Falcons this year, averaging 5.3 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per contest in his six appearances. Poplar is the most accurate shooter on the team, hitting 56% of his shots, and going 5-for-10 from three-point range in his first six games. Poplar had ten points and four rebounds in the win over Dundalk, his season-high for points. Poplar came off the bench and hit a pair of three-pointers in the game against Essex last week, pulling down four rebounds as well.
 
In his third season in charge, Landon Gabriel returns to the sidelines to lead the Falcons. Gabriel, who spent ten seasons coaching at Carbondale Area HS in the rough and tumble Lackawanna League, feels like this can be a season of positive momentum for the Falcons, where, now with his first true recruiting class, he can really implement the high-tempo defense and energy he wants to see from his squad. Gabriel is a King's College graduate, where he played for the Monarchs, after graduating from Carbondale Area HS before that.
 
About the Opponents
Delaware Tech CC (5-3, 0-0) comes into the contest with Lackawanna on a two-game winning streak, having knocked off Delaware County CC and RCSJ Cumberland in their last two games. The Cumberland game was a high-scoring affair, with the Terry Hawks winning 98-91, shooting 51% from the field and hitting 60^ from downtown, while going 17-for-23 from the free throw line in the win. Del Tech had four players in double-figures and overcame 30 bench points from the Dukes to come away with the win. The Terry Hawks own wins over RCSJ Gloucester, Middlesex, and Philadelphia, in addition to their wins over DCCC and Cumberland. Their losses have come to Montco, Northern Virginia, and Cecil. 
 
Delaware Tech is averaging 75.8 points per game this year, while giving up around 70.4 points per game. They're shooting around 44%, and their opponents are hitting 43% from the field. The Terry Hawks and their opponents are even on three-point shooting (28.7% to 28.9%), while Del Tech averages 77% from the free throw line, making an average of 15 free throws per game this year. They hold a +3 rebounding margin, and average eight steals and four blocks per game.  
 
The Terry Hawks have a pair of players in double-figures this year, and are led by Syed Myles, returning from last year. Myles is hitting on 43% of his shots so far this year, and is averaging a team-best 23 points per game. Myles is shooting an average of 6-for-8 from the free throw line per contest, and is third on the team at 5.4 rebounds per game this year. He leads Del Tech in assists (3.8) and is second in steals (1.2) per game this season. Myles has scored in double-figures in all eight games for Del Tech this season, six times going for 20+ points. His season-high came in his last game, the 98-91 win over RCSJ Cumberland, where he scored 29 points on a season-high eleven makes from the field. Myles was two assists away from a triple-double, pulling down 12 rebounds and dishing out eight assists in the win. Myles has twice put up eight assists in a game this season, and his 12 rebounds are his season-high. In two games against the Falcons last year, Myles had 41 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists, including 22 points in the loss at Lackawanna in February.    
 
Freshman Ethan Schmidt is second on the team at 14.8 points per game this year. He's the most accurate three-point shooter for Del Tech, averaging 40% from downtown, and is shooting just under 41% from the field this year. He's 16-for-17 from the free throw line this year, a 94% average. Schmidt averages 4.4 rebounds per contest, and 1.3 steals per game this season. Schmidt has scored in double-figures in six of eight games this year, and scored his season-high in the win over RCSJ Cumberland, going for a team-high 31 points. He was 11-for-17 from the field, making a season-high five three-point shots. He also had six rebounds and a pair of assists against the Dukes. Schmidt had a season-high nine rebounds in the win over Delaware County CC.
 
Jaelin Joyner is third on the team, averaging 9.3 points per game, while pulling down a team-high 10.1 rebounds per game this year. Joyner is shooting 59% from the field, leading the team, and also leads the Terry Hawks in blocks, averaging 1.9 per game. Joyner averages 1.4 steals per game, and has three double-doubles on the year. Joyner had his best game against Middlesex, scoring a season-high 13 points and pulling down his season-best 20 rebounds. Joyner had six points and nine rebounds, as well as a pair of blocks, in the win over Cumberland. Joyner did not appear last year against Lackawanna.
 
Cole Matthews is fourth on the team, averaging 7.8 points per game this year. Matthews is hitting on 42% of his shots this year, and is an 83% free throw shooter this season. Matthews is averaging five rebounds per game, and is dishing out just over two assists per game, tied for second on the team. He also leads the Terry Hawks in steals, at just under two per contest. He's gone into double-figures twice this year, scoring his season-high 14 points against Cumberland. Against the Dukes, he made a season-best seven of nine free throws to help secure the victory. Matthews has hit his season-high of seven rebounds three times this year, and reached his season-high in assists with five against Middlesex this year. Matthews appeared in both games last year against Lackawanna, scoring three points in sporadic bench minutes for Del Tech.
 
Devin McDowell is averaging 7.3 points per game this year, and is shooting around 43% from the field for Del Tech this season. McDowell is second on the team at 5.9 rebounds per game, and is also second in blocks per game (1.8). McDowell averages 1.4 assists per game, as well. McDowell has scored in double-figures three times this year, hitting his season-high of 13 points in the win over CC of Philadelphia back on 11/10. He had 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting, while going 3-for-4 from the free throw line, and pulling down five rebounds. He set his season-high for rebounds with nine in the loss to Cecil. Against Cumberland, McDowell had 12 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in the win over the Dukes.
 
The head coach for Delaware Tech is Richard Rago, now in his fourth official season at the helm for the Terry Hawks. Delaware Tech's program did not participate in the pandemic-shortened 2020-2021. Rago was tasked with building the program back up in 2018, and, after a tough first year, improved by eleven wins in his second year. Rago came to Del Tech after spending nearly 30 years in high school basketball, coaching St. Elizabeth HS in Delaware. There, he won Catholic League COTY five different times, and had his teams as a regular in the state tournament over his last ten seasons. Last season, he led the Terry Hawks to the Region XIX championship with an upset win on the road against Raritan Valley CC.
 
Game Information
The game is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gym. The game is open to the public, and will have tickets sold at the door for both students ($3) and adults ($5). The match-up will have a video livestream available at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, for a fee. Steve Young will serve as the play-by-play broadcaster. 
 
Lackawanna College will continue Region XIX play in its next game on Saturday, December 3^rd, when the Falcons travel to Mercer County CC to take on the Vikings in West Windsor Twp, New Jersey. That game is set for a 12:00pm ET tip-off.