2/11/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's basketball is half-way through a four-games-in-seven-days stretch, and the Falcons are 2-0 through their first two games. But, after an emotional home win, the Falcons have to get back up to host Mercer County CC on Saturday, February 11^th in another important Region XIX DII clash.
 
The game is set for a 1:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. The game is open to the public, with admission sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with a valid student ID. There will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Falcons and Region 19 Sports Networks. You can access the pay-per-view stream via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. Steve Young will handle the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide color commentary.
 
Lackawanna College beat Mercer County in their previous match-up, back on December 3^rd, by an 88-68 margin in New Jersey. The Falcons held the lead throughout, and put four players in double-figures. You can read the recap HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (14-8, 5-3) enters Saturday's contest after an impressive 84-74 win at home against Raritan Valley CC on Thursday evening. The Falcons, during Sophomore Day, put four players in double-figures and shot 44% from the field, overcoming a six-point deficit in the second half to roar back for the win. Lackawanna was led by a season-high 26 points and 12 rebounds from Aamir Mack, while Malek Mims added 18 points, and Caleb Mims scored 12 second-half points to finish with 16. You can read the recap HERE.
 
As things stand right now, the Falcons are 5-3 and the second seed in the Region XIX DII standings, one game behind Raritan Valley, who is 6-2. The Lackawanna hold on second place is tenuous, however, as Essex, Morris, and Mercer are all within one game of the Falcons. The remaining schedule for Lackawanna in Region play is Mercer this Saturday and a road game at Morris next weekend. Mercer still has the game against Lackawanna and a game on Tuesday against Raritan. Essex, a half-game back from the Falcons, has one region game remaining, a road match-up next Saturday at Delaware Tech. If the playoffs were to start today, the Falcons would be hosting Essex in Region XIX semi-final in the 2/3 match-up.
 
The Falcons are averaging 81 points per game this season, and are allowing 74.5 points per game on the year. The Falcons are shooting 44.7% from the field, and are hitting around 30% on the year from downtown. Lackawanna gets to the free throw line a lot, going 301-for-474 so far this season, a 63.5% clip. The Falcons average 41.6 rebounds per game, with a +5 margin, and they have forced an average of 18.6 turnovers per game, with nine steals per contest for the Falcon defense. Opponents are shooting 42% from the field this season, and have hit 29.7% of their three-point attempts this year. Falcon opponents have forced an average of 17.3 Lackawanna turnovers per game.   
 
Nasir Brown (Wilmington, DE) is one of four Lackawanna players in double-figures and leads the Falcons in scoring at 15.9 points per game. He is third on the team in rebounding (4.7), and leads the team in 3PT FGs made (37). Brown is tops on the team in FT% (74.7%), and is fourth on the team with 24 steals this season. He's hit double-figures in 16 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 seven of nine games in the spring semester for the Falcons. He had eleven points off the bench in the win over Delaware Tech, but missed the Raritan game on Thursday. Brown had 20 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in the win over Mercer back in December.    
 
Aamir Mack (Atlantic City, NJ) is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. Mack averages five rebounds per game, third on the team, and hits around 52% of his shots from the field. Mack also has made 57% of his shots from the free throw line this year, and is a 35% 3PT shooter. Mack has hit for double-figures in points 14 times this season, going for his season-high 26 points in his last game, the win over Raritan on Thursday. Mack was 12-for-20 from the floor, and also set his season-high with 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Mack has scored in double-figures in four straight games, averaging 19.8 points per game and nine rebounds per game in that span. Mack is shooting 56.7% in that span, and has recorded two double-doubles. Against Mercer, Mack had just four points and three rebounds in the win on the road.    
 
Malek Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is third on the team with 11.9 points per game this season. Mims leads the Falcons in steals (39), and averages 4.1 rebounds per game from his point guard spot. Mims has hit on 44.5% of his shots this season, and is second on the team in assists (60) this year. He's also second on the team in made three-point shots (26) this season. Mims has scored in double-figures 16 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 Raritan Valley, Mims had 18 points and seven rebounds, as well as three assists. He was 7-for-10 from the free throw line, a season-best. Mims had 12 points and four rebounds in the win against Mercer back in December.  
 
Caleb Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is fourth on the team at eleven points per game this year. Mims is first on the team in assists (62), and averages four rebounds per game from his guard position. He's also second on the team in steals (36). Mims shoots 44.2% from the field, and leads the Falcons in free throw attempts (89), shooting 67% overall from the line. Mims has scored in double-figures 12 times this year including five of his last six games. He went for his season-high against SUNY Orange two weeks ago, scoring 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, grabbing five rebounds and making four three-point shots. Mims is shooting 50.7% and has hit seven three-pointers in his last six games, where he has scored 91 combined points, averaging 15.2 per game in that span. Mims had 16 points, 12 in the second half, and ten rebounds, his first double-double of the year, in the win against Raritan Valley on Thursday. Mims had 13 points and six rebounds in the win against Mercer back in December.   
 
Nashawn Johnson (Bronx, NY) is averaging 8.1 points per game this year. He's first on the team with six rebounds per game, and is shooting around 44% from the field on the year. An All-Region selection in 2021, Nashawn is a 56% free throw shooter this year, and is third on the team with six blocks on the year. After making just one three-pointer in the fall semester, he's made six threes in nine spring semester games. He has scored in double-figures six 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 had a season-best 16 rebounds in the home win vs. Delaware Tech back in November. Johnson scored 12 points and had five rebounds in the win over Raritan on Thursday evening. He had nine points and seven rebounds in December against Mercer County.

Rahmad Ali (Newark, NJ) is averaging 7.5 points per game this season, while also pulling down 5.2 rebounds per game, second on the team. Ali is third on the squad with 50 total assists, and is third on the team in steals (29) this season. Ali is shooting 43.4% from the field this year, and is shooting 34% from downtown this season, making 22 three-point shots, third on the team. Rahmad has gone for double-figures seven times this season, and has twice scored his season-high 15 points. The first time came against Raritan Valley back in December, where he was 6-for-14 from the floor with three three-pointers in a loss to the Lions on the road. The second time he hit for 15 came in the win over Central Penn, where he was 6-for-11 from the floor and hit three three-pointers, while pulling down five rebounds and dishing out a pair of helpers in the win at home. Ali set his season-high with eleven rebounds in a road loss at Essex last month, and had his season-high seven assists in the win over Morris at home last month. Ali had four points and four rebounds in the win over Raritan Valley on Thursday. Against Mercer in December, he had just three points and a pair of assists in the win.
 
Julian Wilson (Williamsport, PA) missed the first few games with injury, but has become a bench role player for the Falcons. Wilson is averaging 5.5 points per game in his 18 appearances, and has pulled down around 4.6 rebounds per game on the campaign. Wilson is shooting around 61% from in close at the basket, and has scored in double-figures five times this season. Against Mercer in December, 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. In his last game, Wilson pulled down a team-high eleven rebounds, but was just 2-for-8 from the floor.  
 
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
Mercer County CC (11-12, 4-4) enters the contest on a two-game slide, after winning three in a row. After a 3-6 start, the Vikings went on a run where they won five of seven through the middle of January, and ran off four straight region wins, before dropping a 69-50 decision on the road at Morris on Thursday evening. The Titans shot 49% from the field and outscored Mercer by 18 points in the second half, breaking open what had been a tight game after the first half. The loss snapped the four game unbeaten streak through Region XIX for Mercer, and dropped them into fifth place in the standings.
 
Mercer County CC is averaging around 70 points per game so far this season, while opponents are scoring 77.2 per game against them. Mercer is shooting around 42.7% as a team, and are hitting around 37% from beyond-the-arc, while opponents have hit 46% of their shots against the Vikings, and have hit around 32% from downtown. The Vikings get to the free throw line fairly often, averaging 17 trips per game, and are shooting a strong 70.7% from the charity stripe. The have a -3 rebounding margin, and average just under 14 turnovers per game, but have forced 13 turnovers per contest on the year. Vikings opponents average just over six steals per game, while Mercer averages 7.3 swipes per contest.
 
The Vikings are led by Izaiah Johnson, averaging 18.6 points per game on the year. Johnson is hitting on 40% of his shots this year, and 35% from downtown. He's also shooting at 76% from the free throw line, second on the team. He leads the squad in 4.5 assists per game, and also leads in steals at 2.3 per contest. Johnson averages 5.3 rebounds per game, fourth on the Vikings. He has scored in double-figures in all but one game so far this season, going over 20 points in seven different games, including four in a row here at one point in the spring semester. Johnson scored his season-high 29 points in a narrow 58-57 loss to Northampton making a season-best nine shots from the field and hitting five three-pointers, while also sinking six free throws. Johnson set a season-high with eleven free throw makes in 14 attempts in a 79-64 win over Ulster back in November. Johnson had a triple-double this year, going for 18 points, ten rebounds, and a season-high 13 assists in a win over RCSJ Gloucester back in December. Against Lackawanna the first time around, he had 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting, with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
Jake Manuel is second in scoring on the team, averaging 13.7 points per game this season. Manuel is hitting over 45% of his shots, and leads the team in three-point makes, with 57 made threes so far this season, shooting at 40.7% from downtown. Manuel is tops on the team in free throw shooting, hitting 79.7% of his attempts from the stripe. Manuel is third on the team in rebounds (5.5 per game) and averages just over an assist per game. Manuel has scored in double-figures in 17 games this year, and set his season-high with 26 points in the win over Northern Virginia earlier this year. He made seven free throws, a season-best, in the win. He set a season-high with six made three-pointers in the win over SUNY Ulster, where he scored 24 points. Manual has one double-double this year, scoring ten points and pulling down a season-best eleven rebounds in a loss to Raritan back in December. He had a stretch last week where he scored 57 points in three games, shooting 61.9% from downtown, in wins over CC of Philadelphia, Delaware Tech, and Essex. Manuel was held in check against Lackawanna earlier this season, going for just four points, two rebounds, and an assist in the loss.
 
Deon Sanders is third on the team at 11.6 points per game so far this year, mostly coming off the bench for the Vikings. Sanders leads the team in shooting (45.5%) and hits around 42% from three, while shooting around 69% from the free throw line. Sanders averages 1.6 assists per game, and just under one steal per game. Sanders has scored in double-figures in eight games this season, and hit his season-high 19 points in the loss to Raritan in December, going 7-for-12 from the field and making a season-high five three-pointers. Sanders had 14 points and three steals against Lackawanna earlier this season. He has not played for the Vikings since the December 20^th loss to Catonsville.  
 
Isham McClain is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 8.5 points per contest this season. McClain is shooting 40.7% from the field, and hits around 34% from deep. McClain is second on the Vikings in rebounding at 5.9 per contest this year, and is second on the team in assists (2.7). He also averages just over one steal per game. Isham has has scored in double-figures six times this season, getting his season-high of 22 points in the 95-86 win over Delaware Tech on January 31^st, where he made a season-best eight shots from the field, including three three-point shots, and was 3-for-4 from the line in the win. He has pulled down double-digit rebounds four times this year, posting his season-high eleven rebounds in back-to-back games with RCSJ Cumberland and Morris in January. McClain has hit his season-high six assists on three separate occasions this year. He had eight points on 2-for-10 shooting, with four rebounds and five assists in the loss to Lackawanna back in December.
 
Jason Mark has played primarily in the later stages of the season, and is averaging 7.9 points per game so far in his eight games of action. Mark is shooting around 42% from the field, and leads the Vikings at six rebounds per game. Mark averages 1.6 assists per game, and around one steal per contest, as well. Mark has hit double-figures in three of eight games this year, going for a season-best 13 points in the loss to Harcum earlier this week. Mark was 6-for-12 from the floor in the loss. He has twice gone for double-digits in rebounds, going for eleven in back-to-back games against RCSJ Gloucester and Frederick in December. Mark did not play against the Falcons the first time around.
 
Anthony Rhodes is averaging 7.1 points per game for the Vikings this season, shooting a team-best 53% from the floor. Rhodes is also a 69.6% free throw shooter this year, third on the team. Rhodes averages 4.6 rebounds per game, and about 1.5 assister per game. Rhodes has scored in double-figures four times this season, and scored his season-high 17 points in the win over Delaware Tech on January 31^st, where he was 8-for-12 from the floor and had ten rebounds, matching his season-best on the boards. Rhodes has twice gone for double-digit rebounds, with the Del Tech game as his lone double-double. He set his season-high with five assists against CC of Philadelphia the game before that. Rhodes had nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and a season-best five steals in the loss to Lackawanna earlier this season.
 
The head coach for the Vikings is Howard Levy, who enters his 15^th year at Mercer. Mercer did not participate in the pandemic shortened season, so while this is technically his 15^th year with the school, it's only his 14^th actual season. Levy has a 171-221 record in his career, and has led Mercer to four seasons of 19 wins or better, including a 23-4 record in 2014-2015. That year, the Vikings made it to the Region XIX championship game before falling to Essex in the final. Mercer did win the GSAC championship that season. Levy has a Region XIX championship to his name (09-10), and took the Vikings to the NJCAA DII tournament that year. Levy, a Princeton graduate, played under legendary coach Pete Carril in the 80's, before he went on to play for Team USA in the Maccabiah Games in 1985. Levy played professionally in the CBA and in Australia, and has spent time on the bench as an assistant at George Washington, and then at Princeton for eleven seasons as a volunteer assistant.  
 
Game Information
The game between Mercer and Lackawanna is set for a 1:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. The game is open to the public, with admission sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Lackawanna College students can gain free entry with a valid student ID. There will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Falcons and Region 19 Sports Networks. You can access the pay-per-view stream via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. Steve Young will handle the play-by-play, while Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will provide color commentary.
 
The Falcons have one more game in this seven-day stretch, when they host the #17 NJCAA DI Monroe College Mustangs at the Lackawanna College Student Union on Monday, February 13^th. That game is set for a 6:00pm ET tip-off, and is the second meeting between Lackawanna and Monroe this year.