2/25/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – For the second time in three years, Lackawanna College will play in a Region XIX DII Men's Basketball Championship game. Also, for the second time in three years, their opponent will be the Raritan Valley CC Lions. 
 
The Falcons will travel to Branchburg, NJ to take on the top-seeded Lions on Saturday, February 25^th, at 2:00pm ET, inside the Raritan Valley CC gymnasium on campus at RVCC. The game will have a video livestream available via the Raritan Valley CC Athletics YouTube Channel, which can be accessed HERE.
 
Both teams have won on their respective home floors this season, with Raritan winning an exciting and close 82-80 game back in December (Recap HERE), and Lackawanna winning an emotionally charged Sophomore Day game at home, 84-74 (Recap HERE).
 
These two teams are very familiar with each other over just the last three season. Lackawanna and Raritan were two of a handful of teams to play in the pandemic-shortened spring 2021 season, playing four times in a month's time, including the 2021 Region XIX Championship, which the Falcons won 83-75 at home. In 2022, Raritan got its revenge, winning all three match-ups with Lackawanna, including eliminating the Falcons in the Region XIX playoffs with a decisive 92-74 win in the semi-final round. The Lions are 5-4 in the last nine meetings between the two teams, with five games decided by single-digit margins.
 
The Falcons are in search of their tenth Region XIX championship, while Raritan Valley is looking for its first. The Lions are in their fourth straight region championship contest, and fifth in ten seasons. Last year, Raritan was upset by Delaware Tech at home in the Region XIX Championship game, 86-78.

About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (18-10) has its most wins in a season since going 19-12 four years ago. The Falcons won their semi-final match-up against Essex County College, 92-88, in overtime on Thursday night at home. The Falcons built a double-digit lead that ballooned to as high as 19 points, only to see the Essex Wolverines close the gap and tied the game just before time ran out in the second half to send it to overtime. The Falcons, after briefly falling behind to start the extra frame, managed to find another gear to take the lead and hold on. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 79.9 points per game this season, and are allowing 75.4 points per game on the year. The Falcons are shooting 43.4% from the field, and are hitting around 29.9% on the year from downtown. Lackawanna gets to the free throw line a lot, going 398-for-624 so far this season, a 63.8% clip. The Falcons average 41.5 rebounds per game, with a +3.8 margin, and they have forced an average of 18.5 turnovers per game, with 8.8 steals per contest for the Falcon defense. Opponents are shooting 43.3% from the field this season, and have hit 28.9% of their three-point attempts this year. Falcon opponents have forced an average of 16.5 Lackawanna turnovers per game.   
 
Nasir Brown (Wilmington, DE) is one of four Lackawanna players in double-figures and leads the Falcons in scoring at 14.9 points per game. Nasir is a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year, and is tied for fifth on the team in rebounding (4.1), while leading the team in 3PT FGs made (45). Brown shoots 40.5% from the field this year, and is a 31% three-point shooter. Brown is tops on the team in FT% (77.9%), and is fourth on the team with 25 steals this season. Nasir is fourth on the team in assists, with 49 helpers on the season. He's hit double-figures in 20 games this year, and has gone for 20 or more in seven games this year. 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 eleven of 15 games in the spring semester for the Falcons. Brown had 23 points, 16 in the second half, in the win over Essex on Thursday night. Nasir had five rebounds, three assists, and made four three-point shots, while going 7-for-8 from the free throw line on the night. Brown appeared in the first game at Raritan back in December, scoring 15 points on four made three-point shots, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists in the loss on the road. He missed the game at home against Raritan earlier this month.
 
Aamir Mack (Atlantic City, NJ) is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game. Mack averages 5.6 rebounds per game, second on the team, and hits around 52.4% of his shots from the field. Mack also has made 61.5% of his shots from the free throw line this year, and is a 35.1% 3PT shooter. Mack leads the Falcons in blocks (13) and has hit for double-figures in points 19 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 five double-doubles on the season. He has scored in double-figures in eight of ten games, and is averaging 25.3 points per game over his last four games, pulling down eleven rebounds per game and shooting 54% from the field in that span. Mack had 31 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Essex on Thursday night. In two games against Raritan this year, Mack had a combined 32 points and 14 rebounds. In the win at home in February, he had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help the Falcons to victory.   
 
Malek Mims (Bethlehem, PA) is third on the team with 11.3 points per game this season. Mims leads the Falcons in steals (55), and averages 4.1 rebounds per game from his point guard spot. Mims has hit on 43% of his shots this season, and is tied for the team lead with 76 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 was held to just four points on 2-for-7 shooting, but had five rebounds and tied his season-high with six steals against Essex on Thursday. In two games against Raritan this year, Mims has a combined 31 points and 12 rebounds. Mims had 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the win over Raritan earlier this month.
 
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 (76), and averages 3.6 rebounds per game from his guard position. He's also second on the team in steals (48). Mims shoots 43% from the field, and leads the Falcons in free throw attempts (117) and makes (76), shooting 65% overall from the line. Mims has scored in double-figures 14 times this year including seven of his last 12 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 eight points on 3-for-6 shooting, with four rebounds and two assists in the win over Essex on Thursday. In two games against Raritan this year, Caleb has a combined 20 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.  
 
Nashawn Johnson (Bronx, NY) is averaging 8.8 points per game this year. He's first on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game, and is shooting 43.6% from the field on the year. An All-Region selection in 2021, Nashawn is a 53.8% 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. Nashawn had nine points and nine rebounds in the win over Essex on Thursday. In two games against Raritan Valley this season, Nashawn has a combined 24 points and 14 rebounds. In the win at home, he had 12 points and five boards.  

Rahmad Ali (Newark, NJ) is averaging 7.5 points per game this season, while also pulling down 5.4 rebounds per game, third on the team. Ali is third on the squad with 60 total assists, and is third on the team in steals (34) this season. Ali is shooting 44.4% from the field this year, and is shooting 36% from downtown this season, making 27 three-point shots, third on the team. Rahmad has gone for double-figures nine 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. Rahmad had ten points, eight rebounds, and two assists in the win over Essex on Thursday, banging home a pair of three point shots and going 2-for-2 from the line in the win. Against Raritan this year, Ali had 19 combined points and ten combined rebounds in two games, scoring his then-season-high 15 points and grabbing six rebounds in the loss at Raritan Valley in December.
 
Julian Wilson (Williamsport, PA) has become a key bench role player for the Falcons. Wilson is averaging five points per game in his 23 appearances, and has pulled down around 4.7 rebounds per game on the campaign. Wilson is shooting around 54.3% 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 two points and four rebounds, as well as an assist and a block, in the win over Essex on Thursday night, playing through foul trouble. In two games against Raritan this season, Wilson has a combined nine points and 18 rebounds. He had four points and eleven rebounds in the home win for Lackawanna over Raritan two weeks ago.   
 
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 Raritan Valley CC
Raritan Valley (18-10) comes in having won its last four games, including its latest, a 71-62 win at home over County College of Morris in the Region XIX DII semi-finals. The Lions overcame an early 8-3 hole with an 11-0 run, and took the lead for good at 20-18 with 6:55 to go in the first. Raritan expanded a four-point halftime lead behind the strength of four three-point shots in the first seven minutes of the second half, all part of a 22-12 that put the Lions up 52-38 with 13:29 to go. The Titans managed to close the gap, thanks to holding the Lions scoreless for nearly four minutes, but Raritan still clung to a seven-point advantage. Morris got as close as five, but Raritan managed to lengthen things back out and got the double-digit win. The Lions shot 40.6% from the floor, and were 70.6% from the free throw line on the evening. The Lions held Morris to just 2-for-12 from deep, and forced 17 turnovers on the night. Damon Strand led the way with 20 points, knocking down three three-point shots, all in the second half, while Eddie Davis added 19 points, and Dan Dextraze put up 12 points.
 
Raritan Valley is averaging 85.1 points per game this year, while giving up around 79.6 points per game to their opponents. The Lions are hitting 43.7% of their shots this year, while knocking down 34.8% from downtown, around nine threes per game. The Lions are also great from the free throw line, averaging 75.5% on an average of 23 shots from the charity stripe per game. Raritan takes care of the ball, turning it over an average of 11.6 times per game, while forcing around 14.7 turnovers per game, 8.3 per game coming on steals. Opponents are shooting 44.3% from the field against the Lions this year. The Lions are -3.1 in rebounding margin this season.
 
Raritan Valley has four players averaging double-figures, and the team-leader is the aforementioned Dextraze, scoring 18.6 points per game so far this season, jumping nearly seven points from his average last year. Dextraze is shooting 46.3% from the field this season, and is second on the Lions from three-point land, hitting 36.6% of his shots from deep, and averaging around 2.5 makes per game from downtown. Dextraze also hits 81.3% of his shots from the free throw line. Dextraze leads the team in rebounding (9.9 per game), and blocks (2.0 per game), and is second on the team in steals (1.6 per game). Dextraze has scored in double-figures in 25 games this season, and has gone for 20 or more in 12 games. His season-high came in the 95-73 win over CCBC Dundalk on February 18^th, where he put up 41 points on a season-best 12 made shots, hitting five three-pointers and going 12-for-12 from the free throw line. Dextraze has 16 double-doubles on the year, setting his season-high in the win at Rockland back in January, where he had 16 rebounds, to go with 22 points. Dextraze had 12 points and four rebounds in the win over Morris on Thursday night. In two games against Lackawanna College this year, Dextraze has a combined 31 points and 25 combined rebounds. He had 13 points and 14 rebounds in the win at home back in December over Lackawanna, and put up 18 points and eleven rebounds in the loss at Lackawanna in February.  
 
Eddie Davis is tied for second on the team, averaging 18 points per game so far this season. Davis is hitting around 46.5% from the field, and 25.3% from deep this season. He's second on the team in free throws (81.1%), and also leads the Lions in assists (4.2 per game) and steals (2.0 per game). Davis also averages 4.3 rebounds per game from his guard position. Davis has hit double-figures in scoring 20 times this season, scoring his season-high against SUNY Rockland at home in December, scoring 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting, and going 7-for-7 from the free throw line in the 102-74 win. Davis has gone over 20 points nine times this year, including four times in his last seven games. Against Essex last week, he had his lone double-double of the year, scoring 27 points and putting up ten assists in the win. Davis had 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting, and two steals in the win against Morris on Thursday. In two games against Lackawanna, Davis has a combined 36 points, ten rebounds, and five assists. He had 24 points and six rebounds, as well as three assists, in the win over Lacakwanna in December.
 
Damon Strand is tied with Davis on the team with 18 points per game this year. Strand is shooting 50.8% from the field this season, best on the team, and is averaging 41% from three-point range, also first on the squad. He's also an 80.8% free throw shooter on the season. Strand is second on the Lions with 6.2 rebounds per game this year, and is also averaging 1.4 assists per game and 1.5 steals per contest. Strand has hit double-figures in scoring 21 times this year, going over 20 points on eleven different occasions. His season-high 39 points came against Delaware Tech on February 11^th, going 14-for-22 from the floor and hitting a season-best eight three-point shots in a 108-93 win. He set his season-high with ten rebounds twice this season, the second time coming against Lackawanna earlier this month. Strand has two double-doubles on the season. Strand had 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting, posting eight rebounds and two assists in the win over Morris on Thursday. In two games against Lackawanna this season, he scored a combined 37 points and grabbed a combined 14 rebounds. He had 23 points and ten boards in the loss to Lackawanna College earlier this month, on the road.   
 
Alif Bass is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game this year. Bass is shooting around 46.2% from the field this year, and is hitting just over 36% of his three-point attempts. Bass is second on the team in assists (3.6 per game) and averages just over a steal per contest. Bass is also averaging 4.1 rebounds per game. 18 times he's gone for double-digits, including his season-high of 23 points twice this season. He had 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting in a 93-81 win at Essex back in December, then scored 23 again on 8-for-12 shooting and seven free throws in the loss to Harcum back in January. Bass has one double-double, when he scored 14 points and had a season-high 12 rebounds in the win over Rockland in December. Bass has hit a season-high six assists in one game four times this year. Against Morris, he had eight points on 3-for-12 shooting, posting three steals, two rebounds, and two assists in the win on Thursday. In two games against Lackawanna this season, Bass has a combined 24 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. In the win at home in December, he had 18 points and six rebounds.  
 
Malachi White is averaging six points per game this year, shooting 46.9% from the field, and hitting 77.8% of his free throws this season. White averages 3.7 rebounds per game, and just under an assist and a steal per game. White has scored in double-figures six times this year, and set his season-high with 30 points in the win over Essex earlier this month, going 14-for-19 from the floor. He also reached his season-high with eight rebounds in that game, which he's done four times this season. White had a season-high five assists in the win at Rockland back in January. White had two points and four rebounds in the win over Morris on Thursday. Against Lackawanna this year, White has a combined ten points and five rebounds in two games, scoring eight points and posting two rebounds in the loss at Lackawanna earlier this month.
 
Ruben Reyes is averaging 5.6 points per game this season. Reyes is an 81% free throw shooter, and is shooting 32.1% from the field on the year. He averages just over two rebounds per contest, and just over one assist per game. Reyes has gone for double-digits in points on seven separate occasions, including his season-high of 22 in the OT loss to Chesapeake, where he hit a season-best six three-pointers. Reyes was held scoreless and posted a rebound and an assist in the win over Morris on Thursday evening. In two games against Lackawanna this season, Reyes has scored a combined three points, all three coming in the win at home against the Falcons in December.
 
Amir Britt is averaging 5.3 points per game this season, and is shooting 36.4% from the field this year. Britt is averaging 3.7 rebounds per game this season, and a little under an assist per game. Britt has scored in double-figures twice this year, going for his season-best 15 points in an 82-72 win over Cecil College back in November. Britt was 4-for-9 from the floor, and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Britt has four points in two games against Lackawanna this year, scoring all four points in the win over the Falcons back in December at home. He also posted his season-high ten rebounds in the victory. Britt hasn't played since the Delaware Tech victory on February 11^th, missing the last three games for the Lions.
 
The head coach for Raritan Valley is Kevin Ryan, now on his second stint with the Lions. Ryan took over the program in 2012, going 10-14 overall. That would be the last season in which the Lions did not make the Region XIX playoffs under Ryan. The next year, he went 20-7, capturing a GSAC championship, COTY aware, and finishing as runner-up in the Region XIX playoffs. Ryan would step away after the '17-'18 campaign, only to come back a year later, leading the Lions to the Region XIX championship game, where they'd finish as runners-up. He'd do it again a year later in the pandemic-shortened '20-'21 campaign, only to finish as runners-up again, this time against Lackawanna College. Ryan is in his tenth season at Raritan Valley, and is 158-98 in his tenure.
 
Game Information
The game between two-seed Lackawanna and one-seed Raritan is set for Saturday, February 25^th, at 2:00pm ET, inside the Raritan Valley CC gymnasium on campus at RVCC in Branchburg, NJ. The game will have a video livestream available via the Raritan Valley CC Athletics YouTube Channel, which can be accessed HERE.
 
The winner of Saturday's Region XIX Championship game will advance to the District Tournament next weekend, paired up against the champion from Region 15, while the second-place Region 15 team will play the champion from Region 3. The winner of that tournament will advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, IL at Danville Area CC March 21^st through March 25^th.