2/27/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's basketball has had plenty of time to stew on their last two games of the regular season, and the Falcons are ready to reverse their fortunes. The Region XIX Division II Championships will happen this weekend in the Electric City, starting with the semifinal round on Thursday, February 27^th.
 
The Region XIX women's and men's Division II tournament semifinals and finals will be held inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, with three games happening on Thursday and the two championships scheduled for Saturday, March 1^st.
 
The first and only semifinal in the women's tournament, featuring second-seed and #14 Harcum College playing the hosts, third-seeded Lackawanna College, will tip at 3:00pm ET. The winner will advance to the Region XIX DII championship game to face top-seeded #6 Union College.
 
The men's semifinals will follow, starting at 5:00pm ET when top-seed Raritan Valley CC hosts four-seed County College of Morris. The night cap on Thursday night will feature second-seed Middlesex College and third-seed Lackawanna College, tipping at 7:00pm ET. The winners of each game will advance to the Region XIX DII championship game on Saturday.
 
On Saturday, March 1^st, the women's championship game will be held at 1:00pm ET, while the men's final will follow at 3:00pm ET.
 
The tournament will decide the Region XIX DII champ and put the winner one step closer to a national tournament berth. The region champion will move on as the region representative in next week's East District championship contest. Only the region champion in both women's and men's basketball will advance.
 
The events on Thursday are open to the public and will have tickets sold at the door at a flat rate of $5 per person, which will be good for the entire day's games. Anyone with a valid Lackawanna College ID will gain free entry to the event. There is also a paid video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. It's a $9.95 cost to gain access to all four games for the day on Thursday. Steve Young and Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will handle the broadcasting duties.
 
This season, Lackawanna split with both Morris and Middlesex, while the Falcons dropped both their contests with Raritan Valley CC. Against Middlesex, the Falcons fell 95-65 in Edison, NJ back in December, before returning the favor with an 88-65 win at home on the first day of February.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (15-14) were winners of four straight heading into a road game at Sussex County CC two weeks ago, but they dropped that road contest, then lost six days later on the road to Division I Monroe University. Monroe shot 50% from the field, made 13 three-pointers, and outscored the Falcons by 47 points in the 103-56 win in New Rochelle. Lackawanna had a dreadful shooting night, going 7-for-27 from downtown and shooting just 20% from the floor in the first half, as Monroe built an insurmountable lead. The Falcons committed 19 turnovers and shot just 29% for the game.
 
The Falcons average 79.3 points per contest, while giving up 81.4. Lackawanna is shooting 40.6% from the field and 27.9% from downtown, steadily improving on the season. Meanwhile, Lackawanna opponents are hitting 44% and 31.7%, respectively. The Falcons are hitting 64% from the free throw line this year. Lackawanna has a + 1.3 rebounding margin, with 43.5 boards per game this year. The Falcons have a 0.8 assist/turnover ratio, with 408 assists vs. 487 turnovers. Lackawanna has forced 471 turnovers so far this season, a 16.2 turnovers per game average, and is averaging 9.4 steals per contest.
 

Projected Starters	GP (GS)	PPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG
4 - Evan Laybourn-Boddie (G, FY)	28 (26)	18.0	39.0	30.2	71.7	3.8	4.1	2.4
5 - Nick Marabito (G, So.)	22 (16)	13.5	36.1	30.7	74.6	4.0	1.7	1.2
13 - Elijah Smith (F, FY)	21 (5)	4.7	43.0	28.6	62.2	4.7	0.4	0.5
22 - Noah Elias (G, FY)	13 (7)	8.9	44.8	37.1	50.0	3.5	2.0	0.6
32 - Jireej Cole (C, So.)	13 (13)	9.7	58.8	0.0	59.3	10.5	0.7	0.4

 
 
First-year guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 18 points per game this season, 14th in Region XIX and fifth in Division II. He's shooting 39% from the floor and 71.7% from the free throw line. Laybourn-Boddie leads the team with 74 three-point makes, second in all of Region XIX. He has dished out 116 assists (4.1 per game, fourth in Region XIX DII) and leads the Falcons with 68 steals (2.4 per game) this season. Laybourn-Boddie has scored double-digits 23 times this season, putting up a season-and-career-high 35 points on February 4^th against Mercer County CC. Against the Vikings, ELB made a season-high 12 shots, including eight three-pointers, while dishing out seven assists in the victory. Laybourn-Boddie scored 23 points and set a season-high with eight rebounds, 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 against Cecil on January 21^st, scoring 25 points and going 11-for-14 on the charity stripe in the loss. Laybourn-Boddie was averaging 23.1 points per game in the eight games leading into the Monroe contest, scoring 20+ in six of those contests. He shot 45.6% from the floor in that span, while knocking down 28 three-pointers and averaging 5.5 assists per contest. Against Monroe, ELB only played eleven minutes and scored three points. Against Middlesex this season, Evan had a combined 24 points, three rebounds, five assists, and five steals in two games. Evan had 16 points and four assists, along with four steals, in the victory at home back on February 1^st.
 
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 17 games for Lackawanna College due to injury, with his last appearance coming against DTCC in November.
 
Sophomore guard Nick Marabito (Upper Darby, PA) is averaging 13.5 points per game this season, third on the team. Marabito is shooting 36.1% from the floor, and has made 47 threes, second on the team. Marabito is a 74.6% free throw shooter and averages four rebounds per game this year. Marabito is second on the team with 27 steals and is fourth on the team with 38 assists this season. Marabito has scored in double-figures 17 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 had just two points in nine minutes, along with three rebounds, in the loss at Monroe last week. Against Middlesex this year, Marabito had a combined 30 points, eleven rebounds, and ten assists in two games. He scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists in the win at home on February 1^st.
 
Sophomore forward Jireej Cole (Bronx, NY) has nine double-doubles in his first 13 games this season, all coming in the spring semester. Cole is averaging 9.7 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. He's shooting 58.8% from the floor and hitting 59.3% from the free throw line. Cole has scored double-figures in nine 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 January 21^st, 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. Cole has recorded a double-double in six of his last seven games. He was held without a point and had four boards in 20 minutes against Monroe last week. Against Middlesex earlier this month, Cole had ten points, 13 boards, and three assists in the Lackawanna victory.
 
First-year guard Noah Elias (Silver Spring, MD) is averaging 8.9 points per game through his first 13 games of action in the spring semester. Elias is hitting 44.8% from the floor and has knocked down 23 three-pointers at a 37.1% clip from downtown. Elias is averaging 3.5 rebounds per game and has 26 assists through his 13 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 has five games where he has scored in double-figures for the Falcons, but he has not hit double-figures in his last three games. Against Monroe, he scored just three points in 12 minutes last week. In his appearance against Middlesex, Elias hit for 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, knocking down a trio of three-pointers in the win at home earlier this month.
 
First-year stretch forward Noah McIntosh (Philadelphia, PA) is averaging 7.7 points per contest this year. McIntosh is shooting 41.5% from the floor and averages 2.8 rebounds per contest this season. He also has 21 assists, 19 steals, and a team-high 24 blocks. Noah has scored double-figures in eight games this season. 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 was held to four points in 24 minutes against Monroe, but swatted away three shots. He had a combined 20 points and eight rebounds in two games against Middlesex this season. McIntosh scored 16 points and snagged four boards in the loss to Middlesex back in December.
 
Sophomore guard Jasier Carter (North Brunswick, NJ) is averaging 7.4 points per game this season, shooting 53.4% from the floor. Carter averages 4.1 rebounds per game and has 41 assists, third on the team, and 21 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 eight 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 in December. Carter set a season-high with four assists, four rebounds, and six points in the win against Essex on January 14^th, then matched that season-high with four assists in the loss to Orange on January 23^rd. Carter matched that again with four assists, as well as five rebounds and 16 points, in the loss at Sussex two weeks ago. He's averaging eleven points per game in his last four contests, shooting 63.6% from the floor and averaging 4.3 rebounds per game. He had 12 points and a board in the loss to Monroe last week. Carter had a combined 13 points and two rebounds in two games against Middlesex. He scored nine points in the loss in December.
 
First-year forward Tyrick Moy (Williamsport, PA) is averaging 5.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, third on the team. Moy shoots 42.7% from the floor and has 23 assists this season. Moy has scored double-figures four times this year, 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. He scored six points and had three rebounds in the loss at Monroe. Moy had a combined ten points and ten rebounds in two games against Middlesex. He scored eight points and had seven rebounds in the loss back in December.
 
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 23-32 in his career at Lackawanna as head coach.
 
About Middlesex College
The Colts (19-9) are reeling heading into the playoffs, dropping five straight games, which includes their final three Region XIX DII contests, plus a pair of road games at Montgomery County CC and Harcum last week. Against the Bears last Thursday, the Colts fell behind by 21 at the break and could never quite get going in the 103-54 loss. The Colts shot just 26.4% from the floor and a dreadful 2-for-16 from the three-point arc. Middlesex turned the ball over 22 times on the night and watched as Harcum shot 48% from the floor and drained ten three-pointers, while also going 25-for-27 from the free throw line.
 
Middlesex is averaging 78.4 points per game this season, shooting 43.5% from the floor, and hitting 29.6% from the three-point line. They also average 68.5% from the free throw line as a team. The Colts are holding their opponents to 70.5 points per game this season. The opponents are shooting 41.3% and 31.4% from the field and downtown, respectively. Middlesex is dominant on the boards, outrebounding their opponents by +13.6 rebounds per game, averaging 43.5 boards per contest as a team. The Colts are averaging 17.3 assists per contest, while turning the ball over 14.5 times per game. The Colts average 7.6 steals per game and are blocking 4.4 shots per game this year.
 

Projected Starters	GP (GS)	PPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG
3 - Michael Byfield (G, So.)	28 (26)	10.3	38.8	27.7	56.8	4.6	1.9	0.9
4 - Sean Williams (G, So.)	28 (27)	17.5	43.1	33.3	80.2	2.9	4.1	1.4
12 - Jalen James (G, FY)	26 (25)	3.7	24.8	24.1	87.5	2.2	2.0	0.8
13 - Anthony Williams (F, So.)	26 (25)	10.3	55.3	0.0	72.5	9.7	1.0	0.9
25 - Alfeny J. Concepcion (C, So.)	23 (6)	11.9	56.0	28.6	75.0	8.0	1.3	0.7

 
 
Sophomore guard Sean Williams is averaging a team-best 17.5 points per game this season, 16^th in all of Region XIX and sixth in Division II. Williams is shooting 43.1% from the floor and hitting 33.3% from the three-point line, while also hitting 80.2% from the free throw line. Williams has 59 three-point makes, eighth in all of Region XIX. He is averaging 2.9 rebounds per game and leads the team at 4.1 assists per game. He also averages a team-high 1.4 steals per game. Williams has scored double-figures in 23 games this season, scoring a season-high 30 points on 10-for-19 shooting, making a season-best six three-point shots in a win against Queensborough CC on January 11^th. He set a season-high with eleven rebounds against Nassau on January 18^th, also scoring 22 points and posting four assists in the win. 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. He has two double-doubles this year. Williams scored six points in 29 minutes in the loss to Harcum last week. He scored a combined 27 points in two games against Lackawanna this year, with 20 coming in the win at home back in December. He was held to just seven points in 17 minutes earlier this month.
 
Sophomore forward Tristin Harcourt is second on the team, averaging 14 points per game this season. Harcourt is shooting 44.2% from the floor and hitting 65.6% from the free throw line. Harcourt leads the Colts with 10.5 rebounds per game, tops in Division II and fourth in all of Region XIX. He averages 2.2 assists per game, third on the squad, while also putting up 2.4 blocks per game and 1.3 steals per contest. He has gone for double-figures in scoring 17 times this season, setting a season-high with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks in the win against Mercer County CC on January 21^st. Harcourt has hit for double-digits in rebounds 15 times on the year, producing 12 double-doubles on the year. He has twice gone for a season-high 18 rebounds, pulling down 18 boards and dishing out a season-best eight assists against Westchester on November 23^rd, then going for 25 points and 18 rebounds in the win against Lackawanna in December. He has hit a season-high five blocks in four separate games this year. Harcourt had missed four games in a row, including the game at Lackawanna on February 1^st, before returning to action against Harcum last week. He scored five points in just nine minutes of action against the Bears.
 
Sophomore forward Alfeny Javier Concepcion is averaging 11.9 points per game, third on the team. He's shooting 56% from the floor and 75% on the free throw line. Concepcion is third on the team at eight rebounds per game and averages just over one block per game. He also averages 1.3 assists per game and is just under a steal per contest. Concepcion has 16 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 eight double-doubles this season, getting his season-high 14 rebounds in three games this season, against Monroe JV, Kingsborough CC, and his latest game against Harcum. In the loss to the Bears last week, Concepcion had 12 points and 14 rebounds. In two games against Lackawanna College, Concepcion scored 25 points, grabbed 21 rebounds, and blocked six shots. He scored 14 and had eight boards in the win at home back in December, then put up eleven points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks in the loss at Lackawanna earlier this month.
 
Sophomore guard Anthony Williams is fourth on the team at 10.3 points per game, shooting 55.3% from the floor and hitting 72.5% from the free throw line. He's second on the team at 9.7 rebounds per game and is just under a steal per contest, while averaging just over one assist per game this season. Williams has 13 games in double-figures scoring this season, setting his season-high in points (26), along with 13 rebounds, in the loss to Mercer on November 26^th. It was one of nine double-doubles for Williams this year. His season-high 17 rebounds came against Raritan Valley in a loss on February 4^th. In two games against the Falcons, he had a combined 20 points and 14 rebounds. He had 18 points and ten boards in the win at home in December, but was held to just two points in 17 minutes in the loss at Lackawanna on February 1^st. Against Harcum, he had seven points and ten rebounds in 24 minutes.
 
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 53-34 in his time at Middlesex.
 
About Raritan Valley CC
The defending Region XIX champions (17-13) enter the playoffs as winners of four of their final five games to close out the regular season. The Lions had wins against Middlesex, Montgomery College (MD), Sullivan, and Essex, with a two-point loss to Mercer sandwiched in there. Raritan left no doubt in their final regular season tune-up last week, smoking Essex by 45 in a 125-80 win on the road. Raritan scored 60+ points in each half and shot a scorching 67.6% from the floor, including 14 three-pointers. The Lions had a 50-30 rebounding advantage and put five players in double-figures. It was the best shooting performance of the season for Raritan Valley.
 
The Lions are extremely balanced with four players in double-figures this season, and the squad averages 89.3 points per game, while giving up 84.2 per contest this year. Raritan is shooting 48.4% from the floor and is up to 34.3% from downtown. The Lions are good from the line, hitting 72.3% from the free throw line. Their opponents are shooting 46.2% from the floor and 34.9% from deep. Raritan has a -0.7 rebounding margin, averaging 37.5 boards per game this year. Their opponents are turning the ball over an average of 14.4 times per game, and Raritan is at 12 turnovers per contest, while putting up 7.3 steals per game and 3.5 blocks per contest.
 
This year, the Lions are unbeaten against Lackawanna and Middlesex, while they dropped both their games against Morris. Morris beat Raritan in a narrow 97-96 victory at Raritan on December 5^th, then won 89-81 at home against the Lions in January.
 

Projected Starters	GP (GS)	PPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG
1 - Sutan Fitzpatrick (G, FY)	30 (30)	15.1	46.6	35.1	65.9	7.1	6.5	1.2
2 - Ja'Quis Davis (G, FY)	23 (8)	9.4	37.6	36.2	69.0	2.9	1.3	0.9
4 - Najee Graham (G, FY)	30 (30)	19.4	54.8	33.3	79.1	8.8	3.2	1.4
15 - Raydelh Boutin (G, FY)	28 (27)	15.9	46.1	35.0	83.1	4.2	2.9	1.0
24 - Miles Whye (F, FY)	24 (18)	7.2	43.0	22.4	65.2	5.0	1.8	0.7

 
  
First-year forward Najee Graham leads the team at 19.4 points per game this season, seventh in all of Region XIX and second in Division II. Graham is hitting 54.8% from the floor, 33.3% from downtown, and 79.1% from the free throw line. Graham averages a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game, is third on the team at 3.2 assists per game, and is second in steals per contest (1.4). Graham scored his season-high 36 points against Mercer County CC on February 18^th, going 14-for-15 from the floor and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the loss to the Vikings. He scored 33 points against Henry Ford College in a four-point loss on December 14^th. In that game, Graham was 12-for-20 from the floor, 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and posted six rebounds. On the year, he has hit double-figures scoring in 25 games this season and has ten double-doubles on the season. Graham set his season-best with 19 rebounds against Delaware Tech on November 19^th. His season-high in assists came against Dundalk on January 20^th, where he put up 21 points and eleven helpers in a 20-point win for the Lions. Graham has 16 games where he scored 20 or more points. Graham is firing on all cylinders coming into the playoffs, scoring 26.4 points per game in his last eight contests. Graham is shooting 64% from the field in that span, while averaging 7.8 rebounds per contest. Graham has missed just three shots from the floor in his last two games. He had 29 points and six rebounds in the win at Essex last week. In two games against Morris, Graham has 31 points and 22 rebounds. He had 20 points and ten rebounds in the loss at Morris back on January 18^th.
 
First-year guard Raydelh Boutin is second on the team at 15.9 points per game this season. Boutin is shooting 46.1% from the floor and hitting 83% of his free throws this season. He's also a 35% three-point shooter this year. Boutin averages 4.2 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per contest, and is at just over one steal per game. Boutin has 22 games in double-figures this season, scoring his season-high against Harcum on January 21^st, scoring 33 points on 11-for-19 shooting, making five three-pointers in the victory. Boutin also tied his season-high with six assists in the win, which he first set the game before against Dundalk. He's tied that season-high twice more, putting up six assists in the loss to Mercer and the win against Essex last week. Boutin had 20 points and six rebounds in the win against the Wolverines. Boutin has scored 34 points and grabbed eleven rebounds, along with dishing six assists, in two games this year against Morris. He had 30 points and nine rebounds in the loss back in December.
 
First-year guard Sutan Fitzpatrick averages 15.1 points per game this season, shooting at 46.6% from the floor and hitting around 35.1% of his attempts from deep. Fitzpatrick leads the team in assists (6.5 per game) and is third in steals (1.2 per game), while averaging 7.1 rebounds per contest, second on the team. He scored double-figures in 24 games this season, putting up a season-best 29 points in the win at Montgomery College (MD) on February 13^th. He had a triple-double in the win, grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds and handing out 14 assists in the 119-116 victory. He was also 11-for-17 from the floor and made five free throws in the win. Fitzpatrick has two triple-doubles, posting one against Ulster (13/11/13) back in January, and six double-doubles on the year. He set his season-high with 15 assists in the win against Delaware Tech on January 14^th. Fitzpatrick had 15 points, eleven rebounds, and eight assists in the win against Essex last week. In two games against Morris, he has a combined 42 points, 16 rebounds, and eleven assists. Fitzpatrick had 26 points and ten rebounds in the loss to the Titans in January.
 
Naz Robinson is scoring 14.2 points per game this season, shooting a team-best 56.3% from the floor and hitting 46.6% from downtown, while also making 71.7% of his free throws. Robinson averages 2.8 rebounds per game and is second on the team at 3.5 assists per contest. He also averages two steals per game, first on the team. He has 18 games with double-digit scoring, putting up his season-best 28 points twice this year. He had 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting in the loss to Morris back in December, then matched that with 28 points against Dundalk, making 12-for-17 from the floor and hitting a season-high four three-pointers. He had 14 points and a season-high eight assists in the win against Delaware Tech back on January 14^th. Robinson hit his season-high in rebounds twice, getting six boards against SUNY Ulster on January 16^th, and then doing it again against Harcum in January. Robinson has 42 points, five rebounds, and four assists in two games against Morris this year. He has missed the last three games for the Lions, not playing since the Montgomery College (MD) game on February 13^th.
 
Kevin Ryan returns as the head basketball coach at Raritan Valley CC, now in his 12^th season overall with the program. Ryan took the fledgling Lions program and turned it into a year-in, year-out Region XIX power, culminating in the program's first two Region XIX championships in the last two seasons. Ryan's team last year went 24-7 overall, his best record at Raritan, and the fourth time he's won 20 or more games. Ryan first took over the program in 2012, and won 100 games in six seasons, ending with a 22-10 record in 2017-2018, his best season at the time. He left the program for one year, then returned ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign, once again retooling and rebuilding the Lions into the two-time defending champions. Ryan is a New Jersey native, playing two seasons of basketball at St. Peter's Prep before transferring to Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts, then playing a year of NCAA Division III basketball at Hartwick College in New York. He's a Catholic University graduate, who has spent time coaching in the AAU circuit in New Jersey for several years before taking over at Raritan. Ryan is 201-126 all-time in his Raritan career.
 
About County College of Morris
The Titans (13-15) backed their way into the playoffs, dropping their final two Region XIX DII games, but they've won three of their last four, including the first-round playoff game against Mercer County CC this past Tuesday, where they beat the Vikings 104-90 at home. Morris shot 49.4% from the floor for the game, hitting nine three-pointers and posting 15 steals. Morris built a 44-31 lead at the break, then scored 60 points in the second half to run away for the victory.
 
On the year, Morris is averaging 81.1 points per game, while giving up 79.6 points per contest. The Titans are shooting 43.3% from the field and hitting 29.1% from downtown, while hitting 70.5% from the free throw line. Their opponents are shooting 44.7% from the floor and are averaging 34.4% from the three-point line. The Titans are +3.9 in rebounding margin, averaging 37.9 rebounds per game on the year. Morris is forcing 18.5 turnovers per game on the year, while only turning it over 14.1 times per game. The Titans average just over nine steals per game and are rejecting just under five shots per game.
 
Morris defeated Raritan twice this year, split with Lackawanna, and dropped both of their games against Middlesex this season.
 

Projected Starters	GP (GS)	PPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG
10 - Jagger Ruiz (G, So.)	27 (26)	16.1	47.3	33.1	80.3	4.2	4.4	2.7
12 - U-Tyci Brown (F, FY)	25 (23)	12.9	49.8	34.3	72.4	7.8	2.6	2.3
13 - Osagie Osaruese (G, So.)	27 (22)	11.1	50.4	38.5	65.7	3.1	1.6	1.0
15 - Matthew Niedermaier (G, So.)	26 (21)	8.5	40.0	39.1	85.2	3.2	1.0	0.8
24 - Jayden Ford (C, FY)	25 (19)	5.2	42.1	19.2	68.4	4.1	0.2	0.2

 
  
Sophomore guard Jagger Ruiz leads the Titans at 16.1 points per game this season, ninth in Division II. Ruiz is shooting 47.3% from the floor this season and is a 33.9% shooter from downtown. He's also an accurate 80.3% shooter from the free throw line, averaging four makes per game. Ruiz is averaging 4.2 rebounds per game, tied for second on the team, and leads the squad with 4.4 assists per game and 2.7 steals per contest this year. Ruiz has 17 games in double-figures scoring this season, going over 20 points nine times this season. His best came in an 89-88 loss to Macomb CC on November 24^th, scoring a season-high 35 points on 9-for-19 shooting and making 13-of-14 free throws. He made a season-high eleven shots and scored 32 points against Lackawanna, knocking down four three-pointers in the win back in December. He also set a season-high with ten assists against the Falcons. Ruiz set his season-high with eight rebounds and eight points in the loss to Mercer County back on February 20^th. He has ten games with five or more assists, and he set his season-best with six steals in the loss to Cecil College on November 16^th. In the first round win against Mercer, he had seven points, six rebounds, and five assists. In two games against Raritan Valley this season, Ruiz has a combined 42 points, two rebounds, ten assists, and two steals. He had 27 points on January 18^th, making seven shots and knocking down nine free throws, while dishing out eight assists.
 
First-year forward U-Tyci Brown is second on the team at 12.9 points per game, shooting 49.8% from the floor and 34.3% from downtown. He's also hitting 72.4% from the free throw line. Brown leads the Titans with 7.8 rebounds per game this season, while dishing out 2.6 assists per game. He's second on the team at 2.3 steals per game this season and is at just over a block per contest. Brown has scored double-figures 15 times this season, scoring his season-best 28 points in his most recent game, the first-round win against Mercer earlier this week. He was a sizzling 12-for-13 from the floor and had 12 rebounds in the win. It was one of his seven double-doubles this season. Against Mercer on February 20^th, he scored 17 points and posted his season-best 15 rebounds in the loss on the road. He had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and a season-high six steals in the win against Mercer County CC on December 19^th. Brown has a combined 34 points, 25 rebounds, six assists, and five steals in two games against Raritan this season. He scored 18 points and had eleven rebounds in the win against the Lions in January.
 
Sophomore guard Osagie Osaruese is third on the team at 11.1 points per game this season, shooting 50.4% from the floor this year. Osaruese is averaging 65.7% from the free throw line and is averaging 3.1 rebounds per game this season. He has scored double-figures eleven times this season, dropping a season-high 28 points against Westchester back on January 30^th. He was 12-for-16 from the floor and set season-highs in rebounds (7) and assists (6) in the loss to the Vikings. Osaruese had 27 points in the win against Raritan Valley on December 5^th, where he made eight shots and was 9-for-10 from the free throw line. Osaruese scored just four points in the January win against the Lions. He had 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the win against Mercer on Tuesday.
 
The head coach for the Titans is Anthony Obery, who has been the man in charge since taking over on an interim basis in 2016. Obery is in his ninth season as the head coach, and eleventh season overall with the program at Morris. Obery was an assistant for a season-and-a-half before taking over halfway through the 2015-2016 campaign. He took a 1-11 team and finished with four wins in the second half of the year. Obery had a great year in the 2018-2019 season, taking the Titans to a Region XIX championship and a district game with a 23-5 record. Last year was the most successful in his time at Morris, going 22-8, winning a district championship game to qualify for the national tournament as the #19 seed, and winning a consolation game against Howard CC. Obery is a Mercer County CC graduate, where he played for the Vikings during their NJCAA National Championship game run in the 2009-2010 season. Obery went on to play at Felician University, where he played for two more years and graduated with a degree in criminal justice. Obery is a full-time police officer in the Roselle Police Department, as well as a pastor with the New Bethel Baptist Church. He became a Bishop within the New Bethel Baptist Church in December 2022. He is 126-97 in his time at Morris.
 
The Tournament
Since 2003, Lackawanna has won the most Region XIX DII championships of the four teams competing this weekend with six region titles. Both Morris and Raritan have won two championships, apiece, in that time, and Middlesex has a pair of Division III championships in 2008 and 2019. The team with the most championships in that time is Essex County College, with seven titles since 2003.
 
Raritan Valley CC had a history of being the bridesmaid, but never the bride, up until 2023. That's when the Lions captured their first-ever region title. They duplicated that result last season.
 
Morris has traditionally been one of the toughest teams in Region XIX, but the Titans are six years removed from their last championship. Morris had a great season last year, falling in the region championship game, then winning the East B District championship to advance into the national tournament, where the Titans would a consolation game against Howard CC.
 
Middlesex started playing up in Division II last season. The Colts played in the rugged Region XIX DIII before that, battling perennial national powers like Brookdale, Northampton CC, and Montco.
 
All-time, the Falcons have won nine Region XIX championships, with their first title coming back in 1996. Lackawanna won four in a row from 2003 to 2006, but then spread their titles out from there, grabbing the win in 2012 and winning again in 2021 during the pandemic-shortened campaign. Lackawanna is 9-4, all-time, in Region XIX championship games.
 
Again, the 2025 Region XIX women's and men's Division II tournament semifinals and finals will be held inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium, with three games happening on Thursday and the two championships scheduled for Saturday, March 1^st.
 
The first and only semifinal in the women's tournament, featuring second-seed and #14 Harcum College playing the hosts, third-seeded Lackawanna College, will tip at 3:00pm ET. The winner will advance to the Region XIX DII championship game to face top-seeded #6 Union College.
 
The men's semifinals will follow, starting at 5:00pm ET when top-seed Raritan Valley CC hosts four-seed County College of Morris. The night cap on Thursday night will feature second-seed Middlesex College and third-seed Lackawanna College, tipping at 7:00pm ET. The winners of each game will advance to the Region XIX DII championship game on Saturday.
 
On Saturday, March 1^st, the women's championship game will be held at 1:00pm ET, while the men's final will follow at 3:00pm ET.
 
The tournament will decide the Region XIX DII champ and put the winner one step closer to a national tournament berth. The region champion will move on as the region representative in next week's East District championship contest. Only the region champion in both women's and men's basketball will advance.
 
The events on Thursday are open to the public and will have tickets sold at the door at a flat rate of $5 per person, which will be good for the entire day's games. Anyone with a valid Lackawanna College ID will gain free entry to the event. There is also a paid video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE. It's a $9.95 cost to gain access to all four games for the day on Thursday. Steve Young and Sports Information Director Tom Ferguson will handle the broadcasting duties.