1/8/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's basketball is back to work for the first time in 2025, as the Falcons open the spring semester on the road on Thursday, January 9^th, at SUNY Westchester.
 
Thursday night's game is the first of two meetings between the Falcons and the Vikings this season, and it is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off inside the Viking Gymnasium in Valhalla, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the Westchester Vikings Sports Network Facebook page, linked HERE.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (8-8) had won two straight before dropping their last game of the fall semester, a 109-84 setback on the road at County College of Morris back on December 17^th. It has been 22 days since the Falcons last played basketball. In that loss to Morris, the Titans hit a crucial 16-0 run that turned an eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead in the first half. That lead ballooned to double-digits at one point, and Lackawanna only got as close as eight points the rest of the way. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
The Falcons average 78.8 points per contest, while giving up 75.1. Lackawanna is shooting 39.2% from the field and just 25.1% from downtown. Meanwhile, Lackawanna opponents are hitting 45.1% and 33.4%, respectively. Lackawanna has a + 3.6 rebounding margin, with 43.3 boards per game this year. The Falcons have a 0.9 assist/turnover ratio, with 213 assists vs. 255 turnovers. Lackawanna has forced 270 turnovers so far this season, a 16.9 turnovers per game average, and is averaging 10.9 steals per contest.
 
First-year guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 16.8 points per game this season, 16th in Region XIX and sixth in Division II. He's shooting 37.5% from the floor and 75.5% from the free throw line. Laybourn-Boddie leads the team with 43 three-point makes, tied for the most in Region XIX, has dished out 54 assists, and leads the Falcons with 40 steals this season. Laybourn-Boddie has scored double-digits 13 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 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 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. He scored 18 points on four made threes, along with four rebounds and four assists, in the loss to Morris on December 17^th.
 
Sophomore guard Shawnn Smith (Philadelphia, PA) is second on the team, averaging 15.4 points per game this season, which is eleventh 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, third 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. Smith has not played the last five games for Lackawanna College.
 
Sophomore guard Nick Marabito (Upper Darby, PA) is averaging 13.5 points per game through his eleven appearances this season. Marabito is shooting 32.9% from the floor, and has made 21 threes, second on the team. Marabito is a 73.3% free throw shooter and averages 3.3 rebounds per game this year. Marabito has scored in double-figures nine 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 (6), while scoring 14 points in the loss to Middlesex on December 7^th. Marabito had 13 points, five rebounds, and a season-best eight assists in the win against Sussex. He had eight points on just 3-for-12 shooting and three rebounds in the loss to Morris back in December.
 
First-year stretch forward Noah McIntosh (Philadelphia, PA) is fourth on the team with 9.3 points per contest this year. McIntosh is shooting 42.4% from the floor and averages 3.4 rebounds per contest this season. He also has eleven assists, 13 steals, and eleven blocks. Noah has scored double-figures in seven games this season, including three of his last four contests 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 his latest game, 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 averaged 12.75 points per contest in his last four games, shooting 46.6% from the floor and averaging three rebounds per contest. He was held to just five points and a rebound in the loss to Morris.
 
Sophomore guard Jasier Carter (North Brunswick, NJ) is averaging 7.8 points per game this season, shooting 49% from the floor. Carter averages 4.8 rebounds per game and has 20 assists and 14 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 in his last game, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in the loss to Morris. 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 on Tuesday.
 
First-year forward Tyrick Moy (Williamsport, PA) is averaging 7.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game this season, leading the Falcons in rebounding. Moy also has 15 assists and is shooting 47.6% 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 a productive ten points and nine rebounds in the loss to Morris last month.
 
First-year forward Elijah Smith (Washington, D.C.) is averaging 4.9 points per game this season, and pulling down five rebounds per contest, third 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 has not played in the last four games for the Falcons.
 
First-year forward Jaden McMeekin (Pittsburgh, PA) is averaging 4.3 points per game this season. McMeekin is shooting 29% from the floor, making 16 three-pointers so far this season. McMeekin averages four rebounds per contest, with 33 assists and 16 steals this season. McMeekin scored his season-high eleven points and had seven rebounds and three assists in the win against Sussex on December 12^th. He had eight points against Mercer County, also putting up his season-best with 12 rebounds against the Vikings. McMeekin set a season-high with five assists against Middlesex on December 7^th. He has 21 assists in his last six games.
 
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 16-26 in his career at Lackawanna as head coach.
 
About SUNY Westchester
The Vikings (7-8) have had an up-and-down year, but seemed to find their footing to close out the 2024 portion of the year, winning four of their final four games before the holiday break. The Vikings have a few common opponents with the Falcons, facing several squads that Lackawanna has faced or will face this season. Westchester lost by two to Raritan at home, won a pair of games against Essex, beat Ulster by 10, fell to Morris and Montgomery County CC in back-to-back games around Thanksgiving, and then beat Jamestown by ten on December 21^st. Westchester defeating Erie CC back on December 22^nd, taking down the Kats by an 88-83 margin in the final game of a back-to-back. The Vikings saw an eight-point lead disappear, as Erie grabbed a five-point lead on back-to-back three-pointers with just over 13 minutes to go in the game. Later, trailing by a point with under eight to go, the Vikings used a three-pointer to start a 9-2 surge to go up six points with five minutes to play. The lead stayed with Westchester the rest of the way, with Erie getting as close as two points with 46 seconds remaining. The Vikings hit three-of-four free throws to secure the five-point win. Westchester shot 49% from the floor and was 17-for-25 from the free throw line. They forced 18 turnovers and overcame Erie making 12 three-point shots.
 
The Vikings are high-scoring this season, averaging 85.7 points per game through their first 15 contests. Westchester opponents are averaging 75.8 points per game this season. Westchester shoots 43% from the field, and hits around 35% from downtown. Opponents are shooting even better overall, hitting 47.4% from the floor and 33.7% from deep. The Vikings have a +7.0 rebounding margin this season, averaging 40.1 boards per contest. They average nearly 20 assists per game, vs. 17.7 turnovers per contest. Opponents average 14.3 turnovers per game. The Vikings are at 10.2 steals per game this year.
 
Four players scored in double-figures for the Vikings this season. Elijah Hernandez leads the pack at 22.7 points per game this season. The sophomore point guard shoots 34.9% from the floor on a whopping 338 shots attempted. His 36 three-pointers are second on the team. He has made more free throws (68) than his next closest teammate has attempted (66), and he shoots 75.6% from the stripe. He averages 6.9 rebounds per game and has a team-high 93 assists, a 6.2 per game average. He also leads the Vikings with 36 steals this year. He's hit double-figures in 14 of 15 games this year, scoring 20 or more points in 13 games. Hernandez had his season-best in a win against Essex on November 13^th, scoring 33 points and grabbing six boards, while dishing out seven assists, in the win against the Wolverines. Hernandez hit 12 shots, including a season-high six three-pointers, in the victory. He had 32 points on a season-best 13 makes against WVU Potomac on November 16^th, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out six assists. He has hit double-figures in rebounding three times this season, and has two games with double-digit assists, giving him four double-doubles this year. Hernandez had a season-high eleven rebounds, 20 points, and seven assists in the win against Ulster back on November 19^th. He had a season-high eleven assists, along with 12 points and nine rebounds, in the loss to Rockland on November 26^th. He has narrowly missed a triple-double twice this year, just one rebound away in each instance. He had a season-high seven steals in a loss to Morris on November 23rd, the only game where he was held under ten points (4 on just 2-for-16 shooting). Hernandez had 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the win against Erie last month.
 
Mujahid Dine Yacoubou is second on the team, scoring 15.5 points per game, while leading the Vikings in rebounds at 10.2 per contest. Yacoubou is shooting sizzling 63.5% from the floor, making 80-for-126 from the field this season. He has 29 assists per game, along with 23 steals. The sophomore forward has ten games this season with double-digit points, going over 20 points in three games this year. Yacoubou set his season-best with 27 points and 14 boards on 11-for-15 shooting in the loss to Rockland. He has gone over double-digits in rebounding in nine games this year, setting a season-high with 18 boards against Potomac State, while also scoring 22 points, on November 16^th. He has eight double-doubles this season. His string of ten-straight games in double-digit points was snapped against Erie, where he scored eight points and had seven rebounds in the win against the Kats.
 
Chris Kirkland is averaging 14.1 points per game this year, third on the team. He's shooting around 37% from the field and leads the Vikings in three-point makes (42), hitting 35% from downtown. He's averaging 4.7 rebounds per game, and has 36 assists, third on the team. The sophomore guard has scored in double-figures in 13 games this year, going over 20 points in three games. He scored his season-high in his latest game, going for 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting and five made three-pointers in the win against Erie. He has one double-double this season, going for ten points and a season-best ten rebounds in the win against Essex on December 14^th. He has six games with four-or-more made three-point shots this year. Kirkland had a season-high five assists, along with ten points and six rebounds, in the loss to Morris.
 
Robert Bori is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 points per game this season. Bori is shooting 60.5% from the floor, hitting 52-of-86 shots, while going 10-for-22 from downtown this season in 12 games. Bori averages 5.7 rebounds per game and leads the Vikings with eleven blocks. The sophomore has scored in double-figures in eight of 12 games this year. His season-high came against Jamestown CC, scoring 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting, going 8-for-9 from the charity stripe, while pulling down a season-best 14 rebounds in the win on December 21^st. It was the second of two double-doubles this year, as Bori had 21 points and ten boards in the win against Ulster back on November 19^th. Bori had 14 points and four rebounds in the win against Erie.
 
Andre Pennicooke is the head coach for the Vikings, now in his third year in charge of Westchester. Pennicooke took over before the 2022-2023 season, taking the reins of his alma mater after spending four seasons in NCAA Division III at Mount Saint Vincent and Manhattanville as an assistant coach. He also spent time as the associate head coach with the Sacred Heart HS boy's basketball team in Yonkers for four seasons, while also coaching the Minutemen Athletic Club AAU program. Pennicooke is a Bronx native, playing four years of high school ball at Cardinal Spellman before going to Westchester, where he graduated and quickly went on to earn a bachelor's from Iona College, and then a master's degree from Manhattanville in Sports Business and Entertainment Management. Pennicooke is 32-41 in his 2+ seasons in charge.
 
The Match-Ups
This is the first of two games between Lackawanna and Westchester this year, with the squads scheduled to play again in mid-February in Scranton.
 
Tip-off for Thursday is scheduled for 7:00pm ET inside the Vikings Gymnasium in the Physical Education building on the SUNY Westchester campus in Valhalla, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the Westchester Vikings Sports Network Facebook page, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna has a quick turnaround after Thursday, next playing a home game on Saturday, January 11^th, against SUNY Rockville. Tip-off is set for 1:00pm ET between the Falcons and the Hawks from the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.