2/7/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Winners of two straight, Lackawanna College men's basketball will look to turn it into a streak when the Falcons travel to take on the SUNY Rockland CC Hawks in non-region men's basketball action on Saturday, February 8^th.
 
Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00pm ET inside the SUNY Rockland CC Fieldhouse on campus in Suffern, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the SUNY Rockland Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
This is the second meeting between Lackawanna and Rockland in a month, with the Falcons winning the first clash back on January 11^th, 90-76. The Falcons used an outstanding bench performance, outscoring the Hawks 58-38, and Lackawanna shot 59% from the floor in the second half to pull away for the victory. All 13 Falcons that saw time, scored. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
About Lackawanna College
The Falcons (13-12) come into the weekend on a two-game bounce, knocking off Middlesex College last weekend and then beating Mercer County CC this past Tuesday night in back-to-back Region XIX Division II affairs. The wins pushed Lackawanna back up over .500 for the season, and also clinched Lackawanna's position in the Region XIX DII playoffs. The Mercer win was of particular importance, as the Lackawanna nearly blew two separate double-digit leads, but hit 58% from the floor for the game and knocked down 16 three-pointers in the victory. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
The Falcons average 80.7 points per contest, while giving up 82. Lackawanna is shooting 41.1% from the field and 28.6% from downtown, steadily improving as the year winds down. Meanwhile, Lackawanna opponents are hitting 44.5% and 32.5%, respectively. The Falcons are hitting 64.5% from the free throw line this year. Lackawanna has a + 1.5 rebounding margin, with 43.7 boards per game this year. The Falcons have a 0.9 assist/turnover ratio, with 362 assists vs. 416 turnovers. Lackawanna has forced 418 turnovers so far this season, a 16.7 turnovers per game average, and is averaging 9.6 steals per contest.
 
First-year guard Evan Laybourn-Boddie (Wilkes-Barre, PA) is averaging 18.3 points per game this season, 12th in Region XIX and fourth in Division II. He's shooting 39.8% from the floor and 73.8% from the free throw line. Laybourn-Boddie leads the team with 64 three-point makes, second in all of Region XIX. He has dished out 97 assists (4.0 per game) and leads the Falcons with 60 steals (2.5 per game) this season. Laybourn-Boddie has scored double-digits 21 times this season, putting up a season-and-career-high 35 points on Tuesday 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 is averaging 25 points per game in his last five games, scoring 20+ in four of those five games. He's shooting 51.2% from the floor in that span, while knocking down 19 three-pointers and averaging 5.2 assists per contest.
 
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 13 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 13.9 points per game this season, third on the team. Marabito is shooting 36.4% from the floor, and has made 44 threes, second on the team. Marabito is a 76.9% free throw shooter and averages four rebounds per game this year. Marabito is second on the team with 26 steals and is third on the team with 37 assists this season. Marabito has scored in double-figures 16 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 is averaging 16.7 points per game in his last three contests, shooting at 39.5% and dishing out ten assists. He scored 14 points and had three rebounds in the win against Mercer on Tuesday. Against Rockland last month, he had just eight points in ten minutes, battling foul trouble.
 
Sophomore forward Jireej Cole (Bronx, NY) has six double-doubles in his first nine games this season, all coming in the spring semester. Cole is averaging 10.4 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. He's shooting 61.3% from the floor and hitting 62.1% from the free throw line. Cole has scored double-figures in six 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 three games in a row. He had ten points and eleven rebounds in the win against Mercer on Tuesday. He scored seven points and had eight rebounds in the win against Rockland last month.
 
First-year guard Noah Elias (Silver Spring, MD) is averaging 10.1 points per game through his first nine games of action in the spring semester. Elias is hitting 50.7% from the floor and has knocked down 18 three-pointers at a 46.2% clip from downtown. Elias is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game and has 19 assists through his nine 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 four games where he has scored in double-figures for the Falcons, including his last two contests. He had 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting and hit three three-pointers in the win against Mercer County on Tuesday. Elias had four points, six rebounds, and five assists in the win against SUNY Rockland on January 11^th.
 
First-year stretch forward Noah McIntosh (Philadelphia, PA) is averaging 8.2 points per contest this year. McIntosh is shooting 42.1% from the floor and averages three rebounds per contest this season. He also has 21 assists, 16 steals, and a team-high 20 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 had nine points and five rebounds in the win against Rockland on January 11^th. McIntosh scored five points and had three rebounds in the win against Mercer on Tuesday night.
 
Sophomore guard Jasier Carter (North Brunswick, NJ) is averaging 6.8 points per game this season, shooting 51.3% from the floor. Carter averages 4.1 rebounds per game and has 36 assists, fourth on the team, and 19 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 five 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 had four points and five rebounds against Rockland back in January. He was held to just one point, but managed three assists and three rebounds in the win against Mercer on Tuesday night.
 
First-year forward Tyrick Moy (Williamsport, PA) is averaging 5.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game this season, third on the team. Moy shoots 44.9% from the floor and has 20 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. Moy scored two points in six minutes against Mercer on Tuesday night. He had four points and three rebounds in the win against Rockland in January.
 
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 21-30 in his career at Lackawanna as head coach.
 
About SUNY Rockland CC
The Hawks (13-8) had a very successful first half of the season, winning six games in a row at one point, but have stumbled a bit in the 2025 portion of the year, going 2-4 in January. Rockland has bounced back in its last two games, knocking off Raritan Valley CC last Thursday, January 30^th, and then beating Ulster in its last game, 94-51, this past Tuesday night. Rockland shot 46.6% from the floor and hit ten three-pointers on its way to the 43-point win. The Hawks scored 58 points in the second half, pulling away from the Senators for the win.
 
Rockland averages 81 points per game this season, shooting 45.4% from the floor and hitting around 32.5% of its shots from downtown. Opponents are scoring 75 points per game, and shooting 44.3% and 30.8%, respectively. Rockland is slightly under an even rebounding margin (-1.2), pulling down 37.6 boards per contest this year. The Hawks have a positive assist to turnover ratio, averaging 17 helpers per game and 14 turnovers per contest. Rockland forces just over 17 turnovers per game, averaging 12 steals per contest. They also block 3.5 shots per game.
 
Four players average double-figures for the Hawks this season, with sophomore guard Tyler Lingham leading the way at 17.1 points per game this year. Lingham shoots around 49% from the floor and is a 33.7% shooter from downtown. Lingham is fourth on the team at 5.2 rebounds per game and is third on the team at 2.7 assists per contest. Lingham has scored in double-figures in 18 appearances this year. His season-high scoring output came with 32 points on 11-for-22 shooting I the win against Queensborough CC on November 9^th. Lingham has topped ten rebounds three times on the year, resulting in three double-doubles. He had 17 points and ten boards in the season-opening win against Brookdale, then had 21 points and ten boards in the latest win against Essex in December. He had 22 points and ten rebounds on January 28^th against the Borough of Manhattan CC. He has twice hit his season-high six assists, including in his most recent game against Ulster, scoring 21 points and dishing out six assists on Tuesday. He has scored 20 or more points in his last four games, averaging 24.7 points per game in that span, while shooting 55.9% from the floor. Lingham had 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Lackawanna last month.
 
First-year guard Thierry Lokrou is second on the team with 14.8 points per game. Lokrou is shooting around 45.5% from the floor and averages just under two makes per game from downtown, first on the team. He's also a 73.8% free throw shooter. Lokrou is second on the squad at 5.7 rebounds per game and is fourth on the team at 2.6 assists per game. He leads the Hawks at nearly three steals per contest. He has ten games in double-digit scoring this season. His season-best 26 points came in a loss to SUNY Orange on December 3^rd, making nine shots from the floor and hitting four three-pointers. He had 25 points in winning against Ulster in November, knocking down a season-high five three-pointers. His one double-double came against Orange, pulling down ten rebounds. His season-high for boards came against Raritan, where he had eleven rebounds in the loss to the Lions. Lokrou had just five points and a rebound in the win against Essex in December. He has not played in the spring semester.
 
First-year forward Abijah Miller is third on the team at 13.5 points per game, shooting 43.3% from the floor and hitting 35.4% from the three-point mark. He's also a 65.4% shooter from the free throw line. Miller leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 boards per game, and averages 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He also leads the Hawks with 1.4 blocks per game. Miller scored double-figures in 15 games this season. His best came against Lackawanna College, scoring a season-high 26 points off the bench in the loss. He had 26 on 7-for-14 shooting, while also hitting nine free throws, grabbing five rebounds, and posting four steals. He has three double-doubles this year, setting his season-high in boards against Essex in December, scoring 14 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the victory. Miller had five points and six rebounds in the win against Ulster. He missed two games in January, but returned in the win against Raritan Valley on January 30^th.
 
First-year guard Jerell Taylor is fourth on the squad at eleven points per game, shooting 55.6% from the floor and a team-high 74% from the free-throw line. Taylor averages 2.8 rebounds per game and just under two steals per game. Taylor has scored in double-figures 12 times on the year, reaching his season-best 22 points twice. He had 22 points in an 82-73 win against Hudson Valley CC back on December 10^th, then duplicated that output with 22 points in the win against Essex on December 19^th. He ended up with a double-double in the contest, securing a season-high eleven rebounds. Taylor has scored in double-figures in his last four games, averaging 16 points per game and shooting a blistering 56.5% from the floor in that span. He had 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor, while grabbing four rebounds in the win against Ulster on Tuesday. Taylor had just five points in the loss to Lackawanna last month.
 
First-year guard Jalen Munson is averaging 8.8 points per game this season, shooting at 49.3% from the floor. Munson leads the Hawks at three assists per game, while grabbing 2.6 rebounds per game and averaging 1.4 steals per contest. He has scored double-figures in nine games this season, scoring a season-high 19 points in the win against Bronx CC on November 16^th. He was 8-for-12 from the floor in the win. Munson Munson had ten points and season-highs in assists (9) and steals (5) against Essex on December 19^th. He scored 18 points and had a season-high nine rebounds in the loss to Hostos CC on January 18^th. Munson had eight points, four steals, and three assists in the win against Ulster on Tuesday. He scored nine points and had two steals against Lackawanna last month.
 
The head coach for Rockland is John Cavaliere, in his first season in charge of the Hawks. Cavaliere was hired in May of 2024, coming from Purchase College, where he was an assistant. Before that, Cavaliere was head coach at Putnam Science Academy and Concordia College.
 
The Match-Ups
The Falcons and Hawks have met six times since the 2021-2022 season, with the Falcons winning five of the six match-ups. Lackawanna won the last meeting, winning 90-76 at home last month. The last win for Rockland came last year in Scranton, 98-91. Lackawanna has won both road games against Rockland that the Falcons have played in that span, last winning in November 2023, 89-85.
 
Tip-off on Saturday, February 8^th, is scheduled for 1:00pm ET inside the SUNY Rockland CC Fieldhouse on campus in Suffern, NY. There will be a video livestream available via the SUNY Rockland Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna College will get back to Region XIX DII play in its next contest, as the Falcons host the Titans from County College of Morris in the region regular season finale. The game is set for a 7:00pm ET tip-off on Tuesday, February 11^th, inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium. Morris beat Lackawanna in the first meeting between the two, 109-84, back on December 17^th in New Jersey.