2/23/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – After a promising regular season that saw the Falcons win more games (17) than their last two years combined (15), Lackawanna College is set to open the Region XIX Division II playoffs against third-seeded Essex County College on Thursday, February 23^rd.
 
The game is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium in Scranton, PA. 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.
 
Essex has beaten Lackawanna twice this season, besting the Falcons in Scranton by a 98-80 margin back in November (Recap HERE), and then surviving the Falcons with an 89-84 win back in January in Newark (Recap HERE). The winner of Thursday's match-up will face the winner from the other semi-final between top-seeded Raritan Valley CC and fourth-seeded County College of Morris. The Region XIX championship game will be Saturday, February 25^th, at a time to be determined, on the highest remaining seed's home floor.

About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (17-10, 7-3) has its most wins in a season since going 19-12 four years ago. The Falcons went 5-2 over their final seven games in 13 days, including a 78-69 OT win over Morris last Saturday, clinching the second-seed in Region XIX. The Falcons had one more game after that , a 74-62 setback on Sunday at SUNY Westchester, as the tired Falcons couldn't shoot well enough to keep up with the Vikings. You can read the recap from that game HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 79.5 points per game this season, and are allowing 74.9 points per game on the year. The Falcons are shooting 43.4% from the field, and are hitting around 29.8% on the year from downtown. Lackawanna gets to the free throw line a lot, going 375-for-584 so far this season, a 64.2% clip. The Falcons average 41 rebounds per game, with a +3.3 margin, and they have forced an average of 18.4 turnovers per game, with 8.8 steals per contest for the Falcon defense. Opponents are shooting 43.2% from the field this season, and have hit 28.9% of their three-point attempts this year. Falcon opponents have forced an average of 16.3 Lackawanna turnovers per game.   
 
Nasir Brown (Wilmington, DE) is one of four Lackawanna players in double-figures and leads the Falcons in scoring at 14.6 points per game. Nasir is a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year, and is sixth on the team in rebounding (4.0), while leading the team in 3PT FGs made (41). Brown is tops on the team in FT% (77%), and is fourth on the team with 25 steals this season. Nasir is fourth on the team in assists, with 46 helpers on the season. He's hit double-figures in 19 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 ten of 14 games in the spring semester for the Falcons. Brown had five points on a rough 2-for-15 shooting performance on Sunday against Westchester. In two games against Essex this year, Brown has 46 combined points, shooting 17-for-37 from the floor and hitting 9-for-11 from the free throw line. He had 25 points in the loss to Essex back in November, his season-high, and 21 points in the loss at Essex back in January.
 
Aamir Mack (Atlantic City, NJ) is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Mack averages 5.3 rebounds per game, tied for second on the team, and hits around 52% of his shots from the field. Mack also has made 60.9% of his shots from the free throw line this year, and is a 34.5% 3PT shooter. Mack has hit for double-figures in points 18 times this season, going for his season-high 38 points in the win over Morris this past weekend, where he hit a season-high 17 shots and was 4-for-6 from the line, while also pulling down a season-best 19 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season. Mack has scored in double-figures in seven of nine games, averaging 18.4 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game in that span. Mack had six points and six boards in the loss to Westchester on Sunday. In two games against Essex, Mack has a combined 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Mack had ten points and three rebounds in the loss at Essex back in January.  
 
Malek Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is third on the team with 11.5 points per game this season. Mims leads the Falcons in steals (49), and averages 4.1 rebounds per game from his point guard spot. Mims has hit on 43.4% of his shots this season, and is tied for the team lead with 74 assists this year. He's also second on the team in made three-point shots (30) this season. Mims was named to the All-Region XIX second team earlier this week. Mims has scored in double-figures 19 times this season, going for his season-best 20 points against Dundalk in November. In that game, he went 7-for-10 from the field, while pulling down six boards and compiling six steals. Mims had 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, with nine rebounds and three assists, in the loss to Westchester on Sunday. In two games against Essex, Mims had a combined 24 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Mims had 13 points, five boards, and three assists in the loss at Essex back in January.    
 
Caleb Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is fourth on the team at 10.3 points per game this year. Mims is tied with his brother Malek for first on the team in assists (74), and averages 3.6 rebounds per game from his guard position. He's also second on the team in steals (47). Mims shoots 42.8% from the field, and leads the Falcons in free throw attempts (109) and makes (74), shooting 67.9% overall from the line. Mims has scored in double-figures 14 times this year including seven of his last eleven games. He went for his season-high against SUNY Orange last month, scoring 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, grabbing five rebounds and making four three-point shots. 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 two weeks ago. He had six points, three steals, and two assists in the loss to Westchester this past Sunday. In two games against Essex, Caleb has a combined 33 points, five rebounds, and eleven assists. He had 21 points and six assists in the loss to Essex on the road in January.
 
Nashawn Johnson (Bronx, NY) is averaging 8.8 points per game this year. He's first on the team with 6.3 rebounds per game, and is shooting 43.6% from the field on the year. An All-Region selection in 2021, Nashawn is a 55.6% free throw shooter this year, and has 30 assists on the year. Nashawn has gone for double-figures in nine games this year, and scored his season-high 16 points against SUNY Rockland last week. Nashawn had 16 points and 14 rebounds, his second double-double this season, going 6-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-6 from the free throw line. Nashawn had 12 points and ten rebounds in the second half to help the Falcons to the win. Johnson had a season-best 16 rebounds in the home win vs. Delaware Tech back in November. Against Westchester, he had eleven points and five rebounds in the loss on Sunday afternoon. In two games against Essex this year, he has a combined 13 points and eleven rebounds. Nashawn had nine points and five rebounds in the loss to Essex back in January.

Rahmad Ali (Newark, NJ) is averaging 7.4 points per game this season, while also pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game, tied with Aamir Mack for second on the team. Ali is third on the squad with 58 total assists, and is third on the team in steals (33) this season. Ali is shooting 44.2% from the field this year, and is shooting 35.2% from downtown this season, making 25 three-point shots, third on the team. Rahmad has gone for double-figures eight times this season, and set his season-high with 20 points in the win over Mercer earlier this month. Ali was 7-for-10 from the floor, and hit three three-pointers, while also setting his season-best with 15 rebounds in the win. He also had six assists and matched his season-best with four steals in the victory. Ali had his season-high seven assists in the win over Morris at home last month. Ali has not played in the last two games for the Falcons, having left the Rockland game last week with an injury, but expects to be available for the game against Essex. In two games this year against Essex, Ali has a combined 18 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. He had 14 points and four rebounds in the loss at home in November, then had just four points with eleven rebounds and four assists in the loss on the road last month.    
 
Julian Wilson (Williamsport, PA) has become a key bench role player for the Falcons. Wilson is averaging 5.2 points per game in his 22 appearances, and has pulled down around 4.7 rebounds per game on the campaign. Wilson is shooting around 55.6% 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. Wilson had seven points and seven rebounds in the loss to Westchester on Sunday afternoon. He only played in one game against Essex, the second game in January, where he was held scoreless in ten minutes of action.   
 
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 Essex County College
The Wolverines (13-13, 6-4) are the third-seed in the Region XIX DII playoffs, and come in on a three-game win streak, including a win over perennial power SUNY Sullivan two weekends ago, and a win over Delaware Tech in their last game, last Saturday. In that game, a 103-78 win for Essex, the Wolverines shot 54% from the field and held a +15 rebounding margin, forcing 20 turnovers and holding the Terry Hawks to just 38% from the field. Essex had four players in double-figures, with Koi Kirk, Jr.'s game-high 26 points leading the way. Kirk, Jr. had nine rebounds, while Jaheim Lewis added 18 points, ten boards, and six assists, and Pascal Dodard put up 17 points and seven rebounds.   
 
On the year, Essex is averaging 78.7 points per game, while giving up slightly above 80 per contest. The Wolverines are shooting around 42.1% on the year, but their opponents are averaging 45.9% on the season. Essex shoots around 29.9% from downtown, while holding their opponents to 31.7% from deep, and the Wolverines are 67.5% from the free throw line this year. Essex has a -8 rebounding margin, but the Wolverines force over 18 turnovers per contest, while committing around 15.7 per game of their own. They average 7.3 steals per game, while their opponents average 8.2 swipes per contest.
 
The Wolverines have three players in double-figures this season, with Jaheim Lewis, a returner from last year, leading the way at 18.3 points per game this year. Lewis leads the team in shooting (47.5%) and is hitting 33% from downtown this year. He's also a 69.6% free throw shooter on the season. Lewis averages 6.7 rebounds per game for the Wolverines, second on the team. He averages around 1.9 assists per contest, also second on the squad, and has hit double-figures 21 times this season, including his last three games, with a season-high 37 points coming against SUNY Rockland in a 96-93 loss back in December. In that game, Lewis was 14-for-18 from the floor, and made five three-point shots. Lewis has gone over 20 points nine times this season, twice in his last three games. Lewis hit a season-best six three-point shots in a 94-77 win over Bronx back on December 17^th. Lewis has three double-doubles on the year, putting up his season-best 15 rebounds, along with 29 points, in the win over SUNY Sullivan two weekends ago. Against Del Tech on Saturday, he had 18 points, ten rebounds, and a season-high six assists. In two games against Lackawanna this year, he has a combined 42 points, 21 rebounds, and five assists. He had 23 points and ten rebounds in the win at home against Lackawanna back in January, going 9-for-12 from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point line.    
 
Pascal Dodard, another returner, is second on the team at 15.8 points per game this year. Dodard is shooting 41.4% from the field, and is a 67.8% shooter from the free throw line. Dodard is also a 32.5% shooter from downtown. He averages a team-high in assists per game (2.3) and is second on the team in steals per game (1.6). Dodard has scored in double-figures in 23 games this season, going over 20 points on seven different occasions. His best game came against Harcum back in November, when he put up 26 points on 9-for-12 shooting, sinking six free throws in an 89-79 loss. He has hit his season-high in rebounds (7) twice, and his season-best in assists (7) came against Erie CC, where he also put up 22 points in a 95-84 loss back in January. Against Delaware Tech, Dodard had 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting, with seven rebounds and two steals. In two games against the Falcons this year, Dodard has a combined 40 points, ten rebounds, six assists, and five steals. He had 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the 98-80 win in Scranton back in November, then had 15 points, four assists, and four steals in the win at home back in January.  
 
Koi Kirk, Jr. is tied with Dodard for second on the team in scoring, also averaging 15.8 points per game this year. Kirk averages 46.8% from the field, and is a 70.8% free throw shooter on the year. Kirk Jr. is almost averaging a double-double, pulling down a team-high 9.9 rebounds per contest. Kirk is first on the Wolverines in steals per game (1.7) and also averages 1.3 assists per contest this year. Kirk has scored in double-figures 20 times this year, and has a double-double in nine games. Kirk's season-high came against Lackawanna College back in November, when he went for 30 points on 10-for-20 shooting, and sank nine free throws. His best rebounding performance came against Morris on December 10^th, where he had 17 points and 21 rebounds, which includes an astounding ten offensive rebounds in the win. Against Del Tech last Saturday, Kirk had 26 points and nine rebounds, going 11-for-17 from the floor. Kirk has been a killer against Lackawanna this year, combining for 53 points and 12 rebounds, while going 12-for-15 from the free throw line. He had 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting, and seven rebounds in the win at home earlier this spring.  
 
Andrew Sylvestre is fourth on the team, averaging 6.5 points per game this year. Sylvestre is a 35% shooter from the field, but leads the Wolverines with an 87.9% clip from the free throw line. Sylvestre averages 2.2 rebounds per game, and just under an assist per contest. He's scored in double-figures four times this year, going for his season-high back in November against Mercer, when he put up 25 points on 10-for-18 shooting in a ten-point win. Sylvestre has gone for his season-high of five rebounds three times this season, and had a season-best four assists in a 12-point loss to Raritan back on December 13^th. Sylvestre He had four points, three steals, and two rebounds in the win over Delaware Tech last weekend. Against Lackawanna, he has combined for eight points and four rebounds in two games.  
 
Michael Isaac, another returner from last season, is averaging 6.1 points per game in 19 appearances this year. Isaac is shooting around 42.1% from the floor, and is a 62.9% shooter from the free throw line. He averages just a shade under two assists per game, third on the team, and pulls down 2.6 rebounds per contest. Isaac has three double-digit scoring outputs this year, putting up a season-high 13 points in win over Ulster back on January 28^th, where he hit 5-for-10 from the floor. He had a season-best six assists against SUNY Rockland back in December, and set his season-high for rebounds at seven twice this year, securing seven boards in his last appearance, against SUNY Sullivan. Isaac did not play against Delaware Tech last weekend, and had six points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the win over Sullivan the weekend before that. His only appearance against Lackawanna came in January, where he had five points and three blocks in the win.
 
Zayden Chiles-Venable is averaging 3.8 points per game this season, hitting at 36% from the field and 84% from the line. Chiles-Venable averages just over a rebound per game, and is just under an assist per game. He's scored in double-figures just once this year, going for ten points in a 108-74 loss at Raritan Valley back on February 2^nd. Chiles-Venable had eight points and tied his season-high with four rebounds in the win over Delaware Tech on the weekend. He appeared in both games against Lackawanna, putting up three points, a rebound, and two assists in the first game in Scranton back in November.
 
Kevin Butler Jr. averages 3.4 points per game this year, and is shooting around 48.6% from the field. Butler averages around 2.8 rebounds per game in his 23 appearances. Butler has scored in double-figures twice this season, including his season-high of 13 points in a loss to SUNY Sullivan back in November, where he was 5-for-11 from the field. Butler had four points, five rebounds, and one assist in the win over Delaware Tech last weekend. Against Lackawanna this year, he has a combined six points, seven rebounds, and two assists in two games. The six points all came in the first match-up in Scranton back in November.   
 
The head coach for Essex County College is Bobbie Morgan, currently in his fifth full-season and sixth year overall at Essex. Morgan took over in November 2017, just before the start of the season, helping to try to rebuild a team that, just the season prior, finished 7^th in the national tournament with a 32-2 record. After a rough first year, the Wolverines improved by 11 wins in Morgan's second season, and then made another jump in the 2019-2020 season, going 20-7 and capturing the Region XIX title, while qualifying for the NJCAA DII National tournament, before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season prematurely. Morgan is 54-60 in his career at Essex County College.
 
Game Information
The game is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium in Scranton, PA. 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 winner of Thursday night's game will face the winner of the other Region XIX DII playoff game, where top-seeded Raritan is hosting fourth-seeded Morris. The Region XIX DII championship game is scheduled for Saturday, February 25^th, at a time to be determined, and will be held at the highest remaining seed's gymnasium.