Box Score 1/23/24
 
BRANCHBURG, NJ – A late five-point lead wasn't enough of a cushion for Lackawanna College men's basketball, as the Falcons dropped another close contest on the road at Raritan Valley CC, 79-76, on Tuesday evening in NJCAA Region XIX Division II men's basketball action.
 
The Falcons (7-9, 3-4) had another close, physical battle with their Region rivals, and held a five-point lead at 70-65 with just over three minutes to play. But, Raritan (15-5, 6-2), the defending region champion and the top team in the standings, never wilted, cutting the deficit to just one point with just over two minutes to go, and taking the lead at 71-70 on an offensive rebound put-back. The Falcons retook the lead after Daryl Coleman (Sophomore; Allentown, PA) was fouled on a three-point shot, subsequently making all three free throws to give the Falcons a two-point advantage with 1:28 to go.
 
Raritan answered with a fall away jumper in the lane to tie the game with 1:10 to play, then forced a turnover and scored a massive three-point play with 38 seconds left to take a 76-73 lead. Raritan made it a four-point lead with about 22 seconds left, and Niare Poplar (Sophomore; Philadelphia, PA) answered with a three to cut it to one with just 8.9 to play. Raritan hit two free throws, and the Falcons could only get a desperation shot up before the final buzzer.
 
The Falcons will look to bounce back on Thursday, January 25^th, when they play host to the SUNY Orange County CC Colts in non-region action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm ET inside the Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.