1/31/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – After dropping a season-worst four straight games, three on the road, the Lackawanna College men's basketball team will look to bounce back when the Falcons host the Central Penn College Knights on Tuesday, January 31^st.
 
The game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. Admission is open to the public, and tickets will be sold at the door for both students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with their student ID. There will be a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network and the Region 19 Sports Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, or via the Region 19 Sports Network app on smartphones and tablets. Steve Young will provide the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide the color commentary.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (11-7) has already eclipsed last year's win total, but is on the wrong end of a four-game slide coming into the contest. The Falcons were last in action this past Thursday, on the road at the #5 SUNY Orange CC Colts in Middletown, NY. The Colts used an 18-3 run in the middle part of the second half to blow open a tight game, running away with the 85-67 win to remain undefeated. It was the third loss by double-digits in four games for the Falcons. The Falcons shot 34% for the game, and just 6-for-31 from downtown, but made 11-for-14 of their free throws. Two players scored in double-figures for the Falcons, including Caleb Mims with his season-best 22 points, going 8-for-16 from the floor and hitting four three-pointers, while pulling down five rebounds. Malek Mims added 13 points, five assists, and four steals for the Falcons. SUNY Orange shot 46% from the field, and was 18-for-21 from the free throw line in the win.  
 
The Falcons are averaging 79 points per game this season, and are allowing 75 points per game on the year. The Falcons are shooting 44% from the field, and are hitting around 30% on the year from downtown. Lackawanna gets to the free throw line a lot, going 248-for-395 so far this season, a 63% clip. The Falcons average 40 rebounds per game, with a +2.8 margin, and they have forced an average of 18.4 turnovers per game, with 8.6 steals per contest for the Falcon defense. Opponents are shooting 43% from the field this season, and have hit 31% of their three-point attempts this year. Falcon opponents have forced an average of 17.3 Lackawanna turnovers per game.   
 
Nasir Brown (Wilmington, DE) leads the Falcons in scoring at 16.7 points per game on the season. He is third on the team in rebounding (4.7), and leads the team in 3PT FGs made (33). Brown is tops on the team in FT% (73.9%), and is fourth on the team with 21 steals this season. He's hit double-figures in 14 games this year, and had gone for 20 or more points in four straight games already this season. His season-high of 25 points came against Essex back in November. Brown hit a season-high ten shots from the field, and had four steals, tying a season-high. Brown has scored in double-figures in five of six games in the spring semester for the Falcons. He had 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting, and made five free throws, while pulling down six rebounds, in the loss to Essex. In his last three games, Brown is averaging 16.7 points per game, shooting 47%, and averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. Nasir missed the last game for the Falcons against SUNY Orange.
 
Malek Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is second on the team with 12.1 points per game this season. Mims leads the Falcons in steals (33), and averages four rebounds per game from his point guard spot. Mims has hit on 44.3% of his shots this season, and is second on the team in assists (50) this year. He's also second on the team in made three-point shots (22) this season. Mims has scored in double-figures 13 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 Orange, he had 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting, dropping five assists and coming up with four steals in the loss. Mims has scored 13 points twice in his last two games.   
 
Aamir Mack (Atlantic City, NJ) is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game. Mack averages 4.1 rebounds per game, fourth on the team, and hits around 51% of his shots from the field. Mack also has made 56% of his shots from the free throw line this year, and is a 33% 3PT shooter. He leads the Falcons with seven blocks this season. Mack has hit for double-figures in points ten times this season, going for his season-high 22 points in the first game of the spring semester against Cecil College. Mack also set his season-high in rebounds with ten, notching his first double-double of the year. Mack made a season-high nine shots from the field, and was 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. Against SUNY Orange, he had seven points on 3-for-10 shooting, grabbing two rebounds.  
 
Caleb Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is fourth on the team at 10.8 points per game this year. Mims leads the Falcons in assists (51), and averages 3.7 rebounds per game from his guard position. He's also second on the team in steals (28). Mims shoots 44% from the field, and leads the Falcons in free throw attempts (73), shooting 66% overall from the line. Mims has scored in double-figures nine times this year including four games in a row at one point. He went for his season-high in the last game against SUNY Orange, scoring 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, grabbing five rebounds and making four three-point shots. Mims is shooting 57% and has hit five three-pointers in his last two games, where he has scored 21 and 22 points, respectively.  
 
Nashawn Johnson (Bronx, NY) is averaging 7.9 points per game this year. He's first on the team with 6.3 rebounds per game, and is shooting around 43% from the field so far this season. An All-Region selection in 2021, Nashawn is a 58% free throw shooter this year, and is tied for second on the team with six blocks on the year. After making just one three-pointer in the fall semester, he's made five threes in seven spring semester games. He has scored in double-figures four times this year, and scored his season-high 15 points against SUNY Westchester. At one point, Nashawn had nine straight points as part of an 11-2 run in the second half that staked the Falcons to a lead they'd never surrender. He scored 15 on 6-for-9 shooting, adding three rebounds. Nashawn had 14 points in the win over Rockland, where he pulled down ten rebounds for his first double-double of the year. Johnson was an efficient 5-for-7 from the field. Johnson set a season-high with 16 rebounds in the win over Delaware Tech, also scoring seven points for the Falcons in the win. Nashawn had nine points and six boards in the loss to SUNY Orange last Thursday.   

Rahmad Ali (Newark, NJ) is averaging 7.1 points per game this season, while also pulling down 5.1 rebounds per game, second on the team. Ali is third on the squad with 44 total assists, and is third on the team in steals (23) this season. Ali is shooting 42% from the field this year, and is shooting 32% from downtown this season. Rahmad has gone for double-figures five times this season, and had his best game against Raritan Valley, where he put up a season-high 15 points in the loss to the Lions. Ali made a season-best six shots from the field, including a season-high three three-pointers, and pulled down six rebounds, while posting two steals for the Falcons. Ali had two points and six boards in the loss to Orange last week.  
 
Julian Wilson (Williamsport, PA) missed the first few games with injury, but has become a bench role player for the Falcons. Wilson is averaging 4.5 points per game in his 14 appearances, and has pulled down around 3.9 rebounds per game so far this campaign. Wilson is shooting around 56% from in close at the basket, and has scored in double-figures three times this season. Against Mercer, Wilson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 18 points in the last ten minutes of the second half. Against PSU Hazleton, the big guy had 13 points in 18 minutes of work, pulling down four rebounds and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor. Last week vs. SUNY Orange, Wilson had six points and five boards in the loss.  
 
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
The Knights (5-12) are out of the USCAA, and are coming into Tuesday night's clash with a 64-52 win over Cheyney University back on Thursday last week. In that game, the Knights saw a 20-point margin evaporate over the second half to just two at 49-47 with 3:18 to go. Central Penn called a timeout, then went on a 13-0 run over the next two minutes of game time to put Cheyney away and escape with the win at home. The Knights shot 36% from the floor, and 31% from downtown, and forced 17 turnovers, 14 as steals, to help their cause. Two players were in double-figures for the Knights, with Kobe Gantz posting up a game-high 21 points and eleven rebounds, as well as seven steals in the win. Nate Jean-Philippe had 18 points and seven assists, while Quadere Allen had six points and ten boards for Central Penn.
 
Central Penn averages 74.3 points per game this season, while giving up around 87 a game. The Knights are shooting around 43% overall, and 33% from downtown, while their opponents are slightly better (45% and 34%, respectively). The Knights are a decent free throw shooting team, hitting 69% from the charity stripe. Central Penn is -7 in rebounding margin this year, and averages 15 turnovers per game, while their opponents average just over 13 giveaways per game. Teams average nine steals per game against the Knights, while Central Penn averages 8.5 swipes per game.
 
Nate Jean-Philippe leads the Central Penn Knights in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game this season. Jean-Philippe shoots 47.5% from the field, and hits around 49% of his three-point attempts on the year. He's also the team-leader in free throw percentage, hitting around 77% from the free throw line. He averages 3.5 assists per game, tops on the squad, and averages just over a steal per game, while grabbing just under three rebounds per game this year. Jean-Philippe has scored in double-figures 15 times this year, going over 20 points on eleven occasions, including five straight games at one point. Jean-Philippe's season-high is 27 points, which he's done twice this year. The first came back in November 6^th, in a 119-78 loss to Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo). He was 10-for-17 from the field, and was 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the loss. His second 27-point game came against Manor College back on December 13^th, where he was 11-for-18 from the floor, and hit three three-pointers in the 93-85 loss. Jean-Philippe hit a season-best six three-point shots in an 87-72 win over Williamson Trade School back on January 1th, scoring 24 points in the win. He has twice achieved a season-best seven assists this year, including in his last game against Cheyney. Jean-Philippe had 18 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in the win over Cheyney on Thursday.
 
Quadere Allen is second on the team, averaging 17.3 points per game this season, shooting 40% from the field, and 71% from the free throw line this year. Allen averages 7.4 rebounds per game, third on the squad, and is just under two assists per game this season. Allen also averages 1.3 steals per contest. He's scored in double-figures 13 times this year, going over 20 points in six different games for the Knights. Allen had his season-high 31 points come in the win over Williamson Trade, making a season-high 12 shots from the field and going 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Allen has gone over double-digit rebounds four times, earning two double-doubles this year. His best output came in a 91-88 win over Bucks County back on December 10^th, where he put up 16 points and a season-best 18 rebounds in the win. He had six points and ten rebounds in the win over Cheyney, which snapped an eight-game streak where he was in double-digit points.
 
Demonte Demore is third on the team, averaging 17 points per game this year, and shooting 48% from the field. Demore is a 50% three-point shooter, and a 69% shooter from the free throw line. He's second on the team with 8.1 rebounds per contest, and averaging 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game so far this season. Demore has scored in double-figures eight times in his ten appearances, including a season-best 34 points in the win over Bucks County CC. He was 10-for-17 from the floor in that win, making an additional ten shots from the free throw line. He has two double-doubles on the year, both times against Bucks County CC. He set his season-high in rebounding against Bucks on December 10^th, grabbing 18 rebounds. Demore has not played since scoring 28 points on December 13^th in a loss to Manor College.
 
 Kobe Gantz is fourth on the Knights in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game this year. Gantz is shooting around 56% from the floor, best on the team, and is a 63% shooter from the free throw line. Gantz leads the Knights in rebounds per game (8.5) and steals per game (4.0). He's also second on the Central Penn squad with 2.5 assists per contest. Gantz has exclusively played in the spring semester for Central Penn, scoring in double-figures five out of his six appearances this year. His season-high came in the last game for the Knights, as he scored 21 points in the victory over Cheyney. He has three double-doubles this year, posting his best rebounding output in the win over Williamson Trade, going for a season-best 12 rebounds. He also set his season-high with seven steals in three games, including his latest against Cheyney.
 
Another player who has exclusively played in the spring semester is Jason Kuntzelman, who is averaging 9.7 points per game in six appearances this year. Kuntzelman is a 43.6% shooter from the field, and averages around 5.3 rebounds per game, fourth on the team. He dishes out around two assists per game, and is second on the team with 2.3 steals per contest this year. Kuntzelman has scored in double-figures three times this year, going for a season-best 21 points in a three-point loss to Bucks County CC back on January 14^th. Kuntzelman was 8-for-17 from the floor in that game. He hit a season-best four three-pointers in a loss to PSU Mont Alto back on January 7^th, finishing with 16 points. He had a season-best six steals in that game against the Nittany Lions. Kuntzelman set his season-high in rebounds with eight boards in the loss to PSU York on January 9^th. He didn't play against Cheyney on Thursday.
 
Khalil Dukes is averaging 8.3 points per game this year, shooting around 34% from the field and 29.4% from beyond-the-arc. Dukes averages 2.4 assists per game, third on the squad, and is just under five rebounds per game. He also averages 1.3 steals per contest this year. Seven times this season, he's gone for double-figures in scoring. His best came in an 18-point performance on December 4^th against Berkeley, going 7-for-11 from the field in the seven-point win for the Knights. Dukes set his season-high with nine rebounds in a three-point win over Five Towns on November 12^th, while putting up five assists for his season-high in the first game of the year, a loss to Villa Maria. Dukes had eight points and eight rebounds in the win over Cheyney last week.
 
The head coach for the Knights is Gary Martin, in his second season at Central Penn. Martin came to the Knights after spending five seasons as the head coach at Susquehanna Twp, where he, ironically, was replaced by the former head coach of the Central Penn Knights, David Archer. Martin led Township to the ultra-competitive D3 Class 4A semi-finals in his final year at Township. He also has stints as an assistant with Dickinson and PSU Harrisburg under his belt, as well. He's already equaled last year's win total with this year's squad. Martin is 10-25 in his time at Central Penn.

 
Game Information
The game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. Admission is open to the public, and tickets will be sold at the door for both students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with their student ID. There will be a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network and the Region 19 Sports Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, or via the Region 19 Sports Network app on smartphones and tablets. Steve Young will provide the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide the color commentary.
 
The Falcons are back in action next on Saturday, February 4^th, when they play host to previously nationally ranked and undefeated Harcum College. The Bears, a Division I Region 19 opponent, will take on the Falcons at 2:00pm ET inside the Lackawanna College Student Union on Saturday.