Box Score 1/9/25
 
VALHALLA, NY - A strong start to the second half gave the Westchester Vikings all the cushion they'd need, as Westchester knocked off Lackawanna College men's basketball, 98-79, on Thursday evening in NJCAA Division II non-region action in New York.
 
The Falcons (8-9) used a mini-burst of energy towards the end of the first half to close a deficit to 51-47 at the break, but a 7-0 run to open the second half by Westchester (8-8) was enough to give the Vikings a double-digit advantage that they would never lose the rest of the way. The hometown Vikings made eleven three-pointers and shot 48% from the field for the game, putting three players in double-figures, which included the game-high 33 points from Elijah Hernandez, going 7-for-9 from downtown on the night.
 
Lackawanna had three players in double-figures, led by 20 points from Nick Marabito (Upper Darby, PA), who hit four three-pointers. Jireej Cole (Bronx, NY) had 16 points and eleven rebounds for the double-double in his first appearance for the Falcons this season, while Noah Elias (Silver Spring, MD) added 17 points on four made three-pointers in his first game of the year. The Falcons hit 54% from the floor in the first half, but were just 32.4% from the field in the second, finishing the game at 43.7% from the floor. Lackawanna was outrebounded 56-to-35, giving up 25 offensive rebounds, as Westchester outscored the Falcons 30-6 in second-chance points.
 
The Falcons are back to work quickly on Saturday, January 11^th, as Lackawanna is set to host SUNY Rockland CC inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00pm ET against the Hawks.