12/6/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – An already tall-task of ending a three-game skid will be even tougher this weekend for Lackawanna College men's basketball, as the Falcons travel to take on NJCAA Division II #22 Middlesex College on Saturday, December 7^th.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00pm ET inside the Middlesex College Physical Education Center in Edison, NJ. The game is the second of two for the day, with the women's teams starting at 1:00pm ET. Both games will have a video livestream available via the Middlesex College Colts TV, linked HERE.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (6-6, 1-2) have dropped three straight games, which includes a 94-76 loss on the road at Raritan Valley CC on Tuesday, December 3^rd. Lackawanna fell behind early to the two-time defending region champs, and Raritan led wire-to-wire for the victory. Lackawanna cut a double-digit deficit down to four in the first half, then came back again from a 17-point deficit to cut it to nine in the second, but the hometown Lions kept answering the Falcons.
 
The Falcons are averaging 76.6 points per contest, while giving up 76.3. Lackawanna is shooting 39.8% from the field and just 24.4% from downtown. Meanwhile, the Lackawanna opponents are hitting 43.7% and 33%, respectively. Lackawanna has a +5.8 rebounding margin, with 43.8 boards per game this year. The Falcons have a 0.8 assist/turnover ratio, with 156 assists vs. 194 turnovers. Lackawanna has forced 212 turnovers so far this season, a 19.3 turnovers per game average, and is averaging 11.3 steals per contest.
 
First-year guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 16.6 points per game this season, 16th in Region XIX and seventh in Division II. He's shooting 36.4% from the floor and 73.7% from the free throw line. Laybourn-Boddie leads the team with 29 three-point makes, 43 assists and 33 steals this season. Laybourn-Boddie has scored double-digits ten times this season, putting up a season-high 28 points in the win against SUNY Onondaga on November 10^th, making eleven shots, four of which were three-pointers, while putting up five steals, four assists, and four rebounds. He had a season-high six rebounds three times this season, coming against SUNY Ulster on November 12^th, Jamestown on November 17^th, and against Essex County College on November 19^th. Laybourn-Boddie had a season-high six assists to go with his 26 points, six rebounds, and three steals in the overtime win against Jamestown. Laybourn-Boddie scored just nine points on 3-for-9 shooting, with two rebounds and an assist in the loss at Raritan Valley.
 
Sophomore guard Shawnn Smith (Philadelphia, PA) is second on the team, averaging 15.4 points per game this season, which is eighth in Region XIX DII. Smith is shooting 44.9% from the floor and is 22-for-23 from the free throw line. He averages six rebounds per game and has 24 assists, second on the team. He has scored 20 points or more in three games this season and has scored double-figures in nine of ten games he's played. Smith had 23 points and seven rebounds, while playing all 40 minutes, in a loss to Montgomery County CC on November 6^th. He set a season-high with nine rebounds in the loss to PSU Scranton on November 4^th. Smith matched that season-high with nine rebounds against Essex, while also scoring 18 points and dishing out a pair of assists in the win for Lackawanna. Smith matched his season-best with nine rebounds and 15 points, along with a season-high five assists in the loss at Delaware Tech. He did not play at Raritan Valley on Tuesday night.
 
Sophomore guard Nick Marabito (Upper Darby, PA) is averaging 12.9 points per game through his seven appearances this season. Marabito is shooting 34.5% from the floor, and has made 14 threes, second on the team. Marabito is a 69.2% free throw shooter and averages 2.4 rebounds per game this year. Marabito has scored in double-figures six times this year, with his season-high coming against Essex, where he had 20 points on a season-high seven makes and three made three-pointers. Marabito scored 15 points and had three rebounds in the loss at Raritan, where he made his second start.
 
First-year stretch forward Noah McIntosh (Philadelphia, PA) is fourth on the team with 8.2 points per contest this year. McIntosh is shooting 40.4% from the floor and averages 3.5 rebounds per contest this season. He also has eight assists, ten steals, and six blocks. Noah has scored double-figures in four games this season, putting up a season-high 20 points against Jefferson CC on November 9^th, hitting nine shots and pulling down seven rebounds. McIntosh hasn't scored more than five points in his last six games, scoring five points putting up a pair of steals in the loss at Raritan on Tuesday.
 
First-year forward Tyrick Moy (Williamsport, PA) is averaging 7.4 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game this season, leading the Falcons in rebounding. Moy also has 13 assists and is shooting 53.4% from the floor. Moy has scored double-figures three times this season, putting up a season-high 17 points and eight rebounds in the win against Jamestown. Moy scored all eight points in overtime for the Falcons. Moy's season-high in rebounding came against Ulster, where he pulled down 12 boards and scored nine points on November 12^th. Moy scored 12 points and had six rebounds at Raritan on Tuesday.
 
Sophomore guard Jasier Carter (North Brunswick, NJ) is averaging 6.8 points per game this season, shooting 51.3% from the floor. Carter averages 5.1 rebounds per game and has 15 assists and nine steals this season. Carter scored a season-high 20 points against Raritan, along with a season-best eight rebounds against the Lions. He's scored in double-figures twice this season, putting up 14 points against SUNY Ulster on November 12^th.
 
First-year forward Elijah Smith (Washington, D.C.) is averaging 4.9 points per game this season, and pulling down five rebounds per contest, fourth on the team. Smith has made nine appearances, shooting 40.9% from the floor. He has scored double-figures twice this season, setting his season-best with 12 points in the loss to Del Tech, where he also had five rebounds in 19 minutes. He set his season-high with 14 boards and nine points in the loss to Harcum on November 21^st. He also had eleven points and four rebounds in the loss to SUNY Niagara back on November 16^th. Smith was held to just two points in six minutes at Raritan on Tuesday.
 
First-year forward Jaden McMeekin (Pittsburgh, PA) is averaging 4.2 points per game through eleven contests. McMeekin is shooting 31.3% from the floor, making eleven three-pointers so far this season. McMeekin averages 3.3 rebounds per contest, with 20 assists and 14 steals this season. McMeekin scored his season-high seven points in the loss to Niagara on November 16^th, grabbing four boards. On November 17^th against Jamestown, he set season-highs in rebounds (5) and assists (4), while scoring six points in the overtime win. McMeekin didn't score, but had four rebounds and four assists in the loss to Raritan.
 
Head coach Kirk Fallon is in his second season as the head coach, and his fifth overall with Lackawanna College men's basketball. Fallon came to the Falcons after a successful two seasons coaching girls basketball at Susquehanna Community HS. Fallon led the Lady Sabers to back-to-back PIAA District 2 championships and a 40-17 record in his two years. Before that, he was also a college basketball assistant at Keystone College for four seasons, where he was involved a lot of the logistics for the program. Kirk has a Bachelor's degree from Marywood, where he played three seasons for the Pacers. He's a northeast PA native, graduating from Susquehanna as a 1,000-point scorer. Fallon is 14-24 in his career at Lackawanna as head coach.
 
About Middlesex College
The DII #22 Colts (9-1, 2-1) are off to a flying start, with the only blemish a home loss to Mercer on a buzzer-beating lay-up. Middlesex took down Essex County in its last match-up on the road this past Tuesday, winning 65-57 in Newark. The Colts held a ten-point lead at halftime, and hung on for the win, shooting 38.7% from the floor and outrebounding the Wolverines 43-27 on the night.
 
Middlesex is averaging 87.3 points per game this season, shooting a hot 47.9% from the floor, and hitting 32.6% from the three-point line. The Colts are holding their opponents to 63.7 points per game this season, shooting 36% and 30% from the field and downtown, respectively. Middlesex is dominant on the boards, outrebounding their opponents by nearly 22 rebounds per game, averaging 45.4 boards per contest as a team. The Colts are averaging 21 assists per contest, while turning the ball over 12 times per game. The Colts average just under nine steals per game and are blocking five shots per game this year.
 
Sophomore guard Sean Williams is averaging a team-best 18.5 points per game this season, shooting 46.7% from the floor and hitting 33% from the three-point line, while also hitting 68.8% from the free throw line. Williams is averaging 2.5 rebounds per game and 4.6 assists per game, second on the team. He also averages two steals per game, tops on the squad, and just under one block per game. Williams has scored in double-figures in nine of ten games this season, twice hitting a season-high 25 points. He had 25 points on 11-for-20 shooting in the win against SUNY Westchester on November 3^rd, along with three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He scored 25 again in the latest game against Essex, making ten shots, dishing out five assists and grabbing one rebound. In the season-opening win against Roxbury CC on November 2^nd, he had 18 points and a season-best seven rebounds. He scored 14 points and had a season-high seven steals in the win against Morris on November 19^th. In the loss to Mercer on November 26^th, Williams had a double-double, scoring 24 points and dishing out eleven assists.
 
Sophomore forward Alfeny Javier Concepcion is averaging 13.1 points per game, second on the team, shooting 62.1% from the floor and a team-best 88% on the free throw line. Concepcion is third on the team at 7.6 rebounds per game and averages 1.3 blocks per game, second on the team. He also averages 1.7 assists per game and is just under a steal per contest. Concepcion has eight games in double-figure scoring this year, twice hitting his season-best 20 points. On November 17^th, Concepcion had 20 points on 9-for-10 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists. The next game against Morris, he had 20 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in a win for the Colts. He has three double-doubles this season, getting his season-high 14 rebounds in two games against Monroe JV and Kingsborough CC. Against Essex, he had seven points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in the win on Tuesday.
 
Sophomore forward Tristin Harcourt is third on the team, averaging 12.7 points per game this season. Harcourt is shooting 44.6% from the floor and hitting 28.6% from the three-point line. He's also a 69% free throw shooter. Harcourt is tied for the team lead at 9.1 rebounds per game, and averages 2.3 assists per game, tied for third on the squad. He also averages a team-best 1.9 blocks per game, and 1.1 steals per contest. He has gone for double-figures in scoring six times this season, setting a season-high with 20 points and nine rebounds in the win against Kingsborough CC on November 9^th. Harcourt went for double-digits in rebounds five times so far this year, setting a season-high with 18 boards against Westchester. He also had 19 points and eight assists in the win. He has three double-doubles this season. Against Essex, he had five points and six rebounds, along with three blocks.
 
Sophomore guard Anthony Williams is fourth on the team at 11.2 points per game, shooting 64.2% from the floor and hitting 78.9% from the free throw line. He's tied with Harcourt at 9.1 rebounds per game and is just under a block per contest this year. Williams has four games in double-figures scoring this season, setting his season-highs in points (26) and rebounds (13) in the loss to Mercer. It was one of two double-doubles for Williams this year, who had 16 points and eleven rebounds in the win against Bucks County on November 21^st. Against Essex, he had five points and eleven rebounds in the win.
 
Sophomore guard Lorenzo Perez averages 7.1 points per game, while leading the Colts in assists (5.3 per game). He shoots at 32.4% from the floor and 35.5% from deep. Perez also averages 1.5 steals per game and is at 2.7 rebounds per contest this year. Perez has scored in double-figures three times this year, scoring 13 points in his first game and his most recent game for his season-high this year. Against Roxbury CC on November 2^nd, he had 13 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Against Essex earlier this week, he had 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the win. Against LaGuardia on November 16^th, Perez scored eleven points and posted a season-best nine assists in the win for Middlesex.
 
The head coach for Middlesex is Winston Smith, now in his third season at the helm of the Colts. Smith has 20 years of experience as an assistant basketball coach at multiple NCAA Division I schools, including spending the prior five seasons with Wagner College before getting hired at Middlesex in 2022. Wagner was a two-time regular season champion in the NEC in Smith's time there, and he also spent time at Farleigh Dickinson and Drexel. Smith was an All-State player at St. Patrick's in Elizabeth, NJ, playing with former NBA player Al Harrington and current Seton Hall MBB head coach Shaheen Holloway. Smith was a top 50 national recruit and committed to play for John Calipari at UMass. Smith attended UMass despite Calipari leaving for the NBA, playing for four seasons for the Minutemen and participating in two NCAA tournaments and an NIT in his time with UMass. Smith is 43-26 in his time at Middlesex.
 
The Match-Ups
Lackawanna and Middlesex split their season series last season, the first year that Middlesex was playing up in Division II. The Falcons beat the Colts in Scranton in December, 82-65, and Middlesex returned the favor in February by a 95-86 margin at Middlesex.
 
Saturday's game is scheduled for a 3:00pm ET start inside the Middlesex College Physical Education Center in Edison, NJ. The game is the second of two for the day, with the women's teams starting at 1:00pm ET. Both games will have a video livestream available via the Middlesex College Colts TV, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna returns to action on Tuesday, December 10^th, when the Falcons travel to take on Mercer County CC in Region XIX DII play. The Falcons and Vikings will tip at 7:00pm ET, the second game of a doubleheader, with the women's teams playing first at 5:00pm ET.