1/23/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – After an emotionally draining, tight loss at home on Tuesday night, the Lackawanna College men's basketball team will try to ramp back up on Thursday, January 23^rd, as the Falcons get ready to take on D2 #25 SUNY Orange on the road in non-region action.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm ET inside Schmid gymnasium in Middletown, NY. It's the second game of a doubleheader, with the women's teams competing first at 5:00pm ET. There is a video livestream available via the SUNY Orange Colts YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
This is the first and only meeting this season between the Falcons and the Colts, who compete in NJCAA Region XV. This is the fourth year in a row that the two teams are meeting, with Orange victorious in the previous three match-ups. Last year, Orange squandered a 20-point lead all the way down to seven midway through the second half, but hit a 15-2 run over a tough five-minute stretch to pull away for the 79-62 win in Scranton.
 
The last time the Falcons were in Middletown, Orange, ranked #5 at the time and on its way to a national semi-final appearance later that year, used an 18-3 run to blow open a three-point game with under 16 to go, eventually coasting to an 85-67 win in January 2023.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (11-10) were winners of three straight before dropping an 86-82 decision at home to Cecil College this past Tuesday. It was a game that Lackawanna led 41-27 at the break, shooting 48% in the first half and hitting six three-pointers, all while holding the Seahawks to just 29% from the floor. The Falcons did their best to keep up the pace in the second half, but Cecil woke up and hit 60% from the floor, including a scorching 8-for-13 from the three-point line, eventually taking the lead at 59-58 on a three-pointer at the under ten mark. Lackawanna went back-and-forth with the visitors, but Cecil could not be denied, pulling out the win. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
The Falcons average 79.7 points per contest, while giving up 76.8. Lackawanna is shooting 40.1% from the field and 26.9% from downtown. Meanwhile, Lackawanna opponents are hitting 44.4% and 33.9%, respectively. Lackawanna has a + 4.8 rebounding margin, with 44.2 boards per game this year. The Falcons have a 0.8 assist/turnover ratio, with 291 assists vs. 352 turnovers. Lackawanna has forced 340 turnovers so far this season, a 16.2 turnovers per game average, and is averaging ten steals per contest.
 
First-year guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 17 points per game this season, 13th in Region XIX and fifth in Division II. He's shooting 36.5% from the floor and 75% from the free throw line. Laybourn-Boddie leads the team with 47 three-point makes, second-most in Region XIX, has dished out 78 assists (4.1 per game), and leads the Falcons with 52 steals this season. Laybourn-Boddie has scored double-digits 17 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. Laybourn-Boddie had six assists to go with his 26 points, six rebounds, and three steals in the overtime win against Jamestown. Laybourn-Boddie scored 23 points and set season-highs in three-point makes (5) and rebounds (8), along with five assists in the win against Sussex  back on December 12^th. Evan set his season-high with eleven assists and 17 points in the win against Rockland on January 11^th, going 11-for-16 from the free throw line. He matched that output from the line in his last game, scoring 25 points and going 11-for-14 on the charity stripe in the loss to Cecil, while also posting four rebounds, seven assists, and five steals.
 
Sophomore guard Shawnn Smith (Philadelphia, PA) is second on the team, averaging 15.4 points per game this season. 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. He has scored 20 points or more in three games this season and has scored double-figures in nine of the 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. Smith has not played the last ten games for Lackawanna College, with his last appearance coming against DTCC in November.
 
Sophomore guard Nick Marabito (Upper Darby, PA) is averaging 13.8 points per game this season, third on the team. Marabito is shooting 36.1% from the floor, and has made 36 threes, second on the team. Marabito is a 76.5% free throw shooter and averages four rebounds per game this year. Marabito has scored in double-figures 13 times this year, with his season-high coming against Mercer County CC on December 10^th, scoring 23 points in the win against the Vikings. Marabito made seven shots from the floor and was 7-for-9 from the free throw line, while also pulling down five rebounds and putting up four steals. Marabito set a season-high for rebounds (12) and had 17 points in the win against Essex on January 14^th, going 6-for-20 from the floor. Marabito had 13 points, five rebounds, and a season-best eight assists in the win against Sussex in December. Marabito had a nice game against Westchester on January 9^th, leading the Falcons with 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting, hitting four three-pointers, and dishing out four assists. Marabito scored ten points and had seven rebounds in the loss to Cecil on Tuesday.
 
Sophomore forward Jireej Cole (Bronx, NY) has three double-doubles in his first five games this season, all coming in the spring semester. Cole is averaging 11.2 points per game and eleven rebounds per game through his five appearances. He's shooting 56.8% from the floor and hitting 66.7% from the free throw line. Cole has scored in double-figures in three games this year, scoring his season-best 16 points in the loss to SUNY Westchester on January 9^th. He set his season-high with 15 rebounds in the loss to Cecil on Tuesday, scoring nine points for the Falcons. He had 13 points and eleven rebounds in the win against Essex on January 14^th, going 5-for-7 down the stretch on the free throw line.
 
First-year guard Noah Elias (Silver Spring, MD) is averaging ten points per game through his first five games of action in the spring semester. Elias is hitting 52.8% from the floor and has knocked down eleven three-pointers at a 47.8% clip from downtown. Elias is averaging 3.6 rebounds per game and has 12 assists through his five games. Elias scored his season-best 17 points in his debut against SUNY Westchester on January 9^th, hitting four three-pointers in the loss. Elias had four points, six rebounds, and five assists in the win against SUNY Rockland on January 11^th. Elias scored 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting and had a pair of rebounds and a pair of assists in the loss to Cecil on Tuesday.
 
First-year stretch forward Noah McIntosh (Philadelphia, PA) is averaging 8.6 points per contest this year. McIntosh is shooting 41.5% from the floor and averages 3.1 rebounds per contest this season. He also has 17 assists, 15 steals, and a team-high 18 blocks. Noah has scored double-figures in seven games this season, including three straight games just before the new year. He has scored his season-high 20 points twice this year, the first coming against Jefferson CC on November 9^th, hitting nine shots and pulling down seven rebounds. The second came in the win against Sussex on December 12^th, scoring 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting. McIntosh set his season-high for rebounds twice this season, pulling down seven boards in the opener against Thaddeus Stevens on November 2^nd, and then grabbing seven boards against Jefferson. McIntosh had nine points and five rebounds in the win against Rockland on January 11^th. McIntosh scored four points and had a pair of rebounds against Cecil on Tuesday.
 
Sophomore guard Jasier Carter (North Brunswick, NJ) is averaging 7.1 points per game this season, shooting 51.4% from the floor. Carter averages 4.3 rebounds per game and has 28 assists and 15 steals this season. Carter scored a season-high 20 points twice this season, first doing it against Raritan, along with a season-best eight rebounds on December 3^rd. He matched that season-high against Morris back in December, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in the loss. He has scored double-figures four times this season, putting up 14 points against SUNY Ulster on November 12^th, then scoring ten points and matching his season-high rebounds with eight boards against Mercer. Carter set a season-high with four assists, four rebounds, and six points in the win against Essex on January 14^th. Carter scored nine points and had a pair of rebounds against Cecil on Tuesday.
 
First-year forward Tyrick Moy (Williamsport, PA) is averaging 6.7 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game this season, second on the team in rebounding. Moy also has 18 assists and is shooting 45.7% from the floor. Moy has scored double-figures four 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 had four points in the loss to Cecil this week.
 
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 19-28 in his career at Lackawanna as head coach.
 
About #25 SUNY Orange
The Colts (15-3) entered the top 25 in Division II last week at #22, but fell to #25 after going 2-1 last week, with a loss to Hostos CC. They have won their last two games, including a 21-point win at home against Morris, along with a 15-point win against Jamestown this past Saturday. Orange used a 20-4 run to start the second half to break open a five-point game at half, building a lead that grew as high as 27 points and cruising to victory at 84-69. Orange shot 49% for the game, forcing 17 turnovers and holding the visitors to just 8-for-32 shooting from downtown.
 
Orange is averaging 90.6 points per game this season, somehow only topping 100 points once this season. The Colts are shooting 49.3% from the floor this year, and they are hitting just under 31% from beyond the arc. They are also at 71% from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 75.2 points per game, while shooting 45% from the floor and hitting 29.9% from the three-point line. Orange has a +10.4 rebounding margin, pulling down 41.9 boards per game this season. The Colts are forcing 16.4 turnovers per game this season, averaging 13.8 steals per game.
 
Sophomore forward Jabari Phillip leads the colts at 20.1 points per game this season, shooting a team-high 61% from the floor and hitting a team-best 87.2% of his free throws. Phillip also leads the squad in rebounding, pulling down a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game. He's at two assists per game, and just over one steal per game this season. Phillip has scored double-figures in 17 of his 18 games this season, getting over 20 points on seven separate occasions. His season-high came in his last game, scoring 31 points on 13-for-15 shooting and knocking down five free throws in the win against Jamestown this past Saturday. He has seven double-doubles on the season, setting a season-high for rebounds in his first game, grabbing 13 boards and scoring 16 points in a win against Western Connecticut University JV back on November 5^th. He scored 16 points and had eight rebounds and a season-high five assists in the win against Monroe CC back on November 16^th.
 
Sophomore guard Marquis Gill is second on the team, averaging 16.8 points per game on 42.5% shooting from the floor. Gill leads the Colts with 49 three-point makes, shooting 33.8% from downtown, while also making 83% of his free throw attempts. Gill is second on the team with 4.8 assists per game, and is also second at 2.3 steals per game. He also averages 3.7 rebounds per contest this season. Gill has scored in double-figures in 16 of 18 games this season, setting his season-high with 30 points on seven made three-pointers in the loss to Hostos CC back on January 14^th. Gill was also 7-for-7 from the free throw line in the loss, while posting four rebounds and four assists. He set a season-high with seven rebounds and 20 points in the win against Raritan back on January 11^th, where he also posted eight assists. His season-best nine assists came against Ulster on November 26^th, a 41-point win for the Colts, which is also coincidentally the only game this year where he didn't score. Gill also set a season-best in steals in that game with five takeaways. He had nine points, two rebounds, and six assists in the win against Jamestown on Saturday.
 
Sophomore guard Daniel Lans is third on the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game this year. Lans is shooting 58.4% from the floor, while also hitting around 70% from the free throw line. Lans leads the Colts in assists (5.6 per game) and steals (3.6 per game), while also posting about 4.5 rebounds per game. He has topped double-digits in scoring in 15 of 18 games this season, posting a season-high 26 points in the win against County College of Morris last week on January 16^th. In that game, Lans was 11-for-16 from the floor, while matching his season-high with seven rebounds. He has hit his season-high twice with nine assists. The first time came against Erie CC on November 17^th, where he had nine helpers on just four points. He did it again in his last game against Jamestown, scoring 12 points and assisting nine times in the win. Lans just missed on a triple-double against Bronx CC on January 9^th, scoring 12 points, posting a season-high ten steals, and assisting on eight shots in the win.
 
Sophomore Matthew Shea is averaging 10.9 points per game this season, shooting 45.6% from the floor this season. Shea is second on the team at 7.4 rebounds per game, while averaging around 1.5 assists and steals per game this season. Shea has scored in double-figures in ten games this season, twice posting his season-high of 19 points in back-to-back games in November. He had 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting, along with 12 rebounds, in the win against Bryant & Stratton on November 12^th, then had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting and eleven rebounds in the win against SUNY Sullivan on November 14^th. Shea has five double-doubles on the season, scoring eleven points and posting a season-best 15 rebounds in a win against Ulster back on November 26^th. Shea has scored in double-figures in his last three games, averaging 14 points per game in that span, and had 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in the win against Jamestown on Saturday.
 
Longtime coach Tom Rickard is now in his 12^th season at SUNY Orange. Rickard has overseen incredible success at Orange, leading the Colts to four Mid-Hudson conference titles, a pair of region championships, and winning two Region XV COTY awards in the process. His 2022-2023 team set a school record for wins in a season, going 31-3 overall, unbeaten in conference play, and finishing in the NJCAA DII Final Four at the national tournament. Rickard had been an assistant coach for seven seasons, prior to taking over the head coaching position, and was the Associate Head Coach for the 2005-2006 squad that made the national tournament for the first time in school history. Rickard is a SUNY Orange alum, where he scored 1,010 points in his career, moving on to Dominican University. He was All-Conference in his two seasons there, earning an All-American nod his senior season. Rickard started coaching as a GA at the University of Buffalo, then became head coach at Chapel Field HS in Pine Bush, NY in 2003-2004, before moving on to Orange. Rickard is 244-97 in his career at Orange.
 
The Match-Ups
Orange has beaten Lackawanna in three consecutive match-ups, dating back to the 2021-2022 season. The Colts were nationally ranked in two of those games. On the year, Orange has faced a few common opponents with Lackawanna. The Colts defeated Westchester by eleven in November, then blasted Ulster by 41 in the same month. The Falcons fell to Westchester in January, but beat Ulster back in November. Orange also beat Rockland by eight in December, a team the Falcons defeated earlier this month. Ulster owns two wins against Raritan Valley, along with wins against Middlesex and Morris. The Falcons lost to all three of those teams in the fall semester. Orange fell to Niagara earlier this month, a team Lackawanna lost to back in November, then beat Jamestown on Saturday. Lackawanna beat Jamestown earlier this year at Niagara.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm ET inside Schmid gymnasium in Middletown, NY on Thursday, January 23^rd. It's the second game of a doubleheader, with the women's teams competing first at 5:00pm ET. There is a video livestream available via the SUNY Orange Colts YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna is back to Region XIX DII play in its next contest, as the Falcons get set to host Raritan Valley CC on Tuesday, January 28^th, inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. Tip is set for 7:00pm ET, with the women's teams playing first at 5:00pm ET.