1/25/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's basketball turned a 20-point deficit into a seven-point game, but the visiting Colts from SUNY Orange County used a 15-2 run over a brutal five minute stretch to put the Falcons away, as Lackawanna fell 79-62 at home against Orange on Thursday night in non-region men's basketball action.
 
The Falcons (7-10) trailed 34-14 midway through the first half as the Colts (15-4) shot the lights out of the Student Union, but rallied to get within nine at the break, fueled by 17 first half points from Aamir Mack (Sophomore; Atlantic City, NJ). Lackawanna battled back-and-forth in the second half until they got it to a 54-47 deficit with 11:28 to play. But, Orange, a year removed from a national semi-final appearance, never blinked, hitting a 15-2 run over the next five minutes of game time to secure the win. Lackawanna never got closer than 16 the rest of the way.
 
Lackawanna shot 34.7% for the game, and was 7-for-24 from three-point range, and was just 3-for-12 on the free throw line. Mack led all scorers with 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Na'Shawn Jones (Sophomore; Paterson, NJ) added nine points off the bench, and Niare Poplar (Sophomore; Philadelphia, PA) put up eight points.
 
Orange shot 47% for the game, forcing Lackawanna into nine second half turnovers, 13 overall, and outscored the Falcons 15-7 on points off turnovers. Mat Shea had 24 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while George Patsalos put up 17 points and 15 rebounds.
 
The Falcons are right back to work with their only remaining home Region XIX game this Saturday, January 27^th, when they play host to Delaware Tech CC. That game will tip at 3:00pm ET, and will be the second game of a doubleheader, with Lackawanna College women's basketball playing Harcum at 1:00pm ET first at the Lackawanna College Student Union.