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↑ Le Moyne did not play during the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this is Champion's seventh year as the team's head coach but only his sixth season.
↑ Le Moyne College's campus, including the Le Moyne Events Center, has a Syracuse mailing address but lies primarily within the adjacent town of DeWitt.
↑ Tournament was held in December 1960, not in the postseason. All active conference members participated along with three non-members.
1 2 3 The Northeast-10 Conference was split into divisions this season, and Le Moyne had the league's best regular-season record in conference games, regardless of division. Le Moyne was the overall no. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
The Dolphins are currently transitioning to Division I and are ineligible to participate in NCAA-sponsored postseason play, including the NCAA tournament, until the 2026–27 season, assuming they meet the revised criteria under January 2025 NCAA legislation to have their four-year transition period reduced to three years.[9] Le Moyne has notified the NCAA of its intention to accelerate its transition.[10]
The Dolphins' first varsity basketball game was a home game at the State Fair Coliseum against Siena on December 7, 1948, a 41–39 loss for Le Moyne.[11][12] The opening game against Siena had been treated by Le Moyne's student body as not simply the debut of the Dolphins as a basketball team but as the first game of what was expected to become a heated rivalry. In anticipation of the game, "BEAT SIENA!" was emblazoned across the front page of the school newspaper.[13]:1 A pep rally was held the night before the Siena game and attended by the team, the head coach, the athletics moderator, Rev. Vincent B. Ryan, S.J., and, of course, the cheerleaders.[14]
Le Moyne's first head coach and athletic director was Tommy Niland,[15] who mentored the varsity basketball team for 25 years, until 1973. Niland remained at Le Moyne after his coaching career ended, continuing in his role as the athletic director until his retirement in 1990. Le Moyne's athletics center is named in his honor.
Le Moyne's first victory came on the road at the Geneva Armory against Hobart on December 10, 1948. Dave Lozo scored 13 points, and team captain Don Savage added 11, as Le Moyne cruised to a 50–37 victory.[16][17]
During the first three years of its varsity basketball program, Le Moyne was led on the court by Don Savage.[18][19][20] Savage had appeared in Le Moyne College's first ever intercollegiate contest on December 4, 1947, a 62–57 overtime victory for the freshman basketball team at Utica.[21] More than 400 Le Moyne students made the trip to see the game.[22] Savage had eight points in that game, while Dave Lozo scored a game-high 18 for the Dolphin Cubs.[23] Joe Boehm served as captain of that freshman team,[24] which went 16–4 and was coached by Tommy Niland[15] in an effort to build the basketball program from the ground up. Niland pulled double duty, serving as coach of both the varsity and freshman teams through the end of the 1949–50 season.[25]
The challenge faced by Le Moyne during its inaugural varsity season was unique. The Dolphins were not simply a first-year basketball team; Le Moyne College was a second-year institution. Therefore, the Dolphins were composed entirely of sophomores and faced teams with experienced juniors and seniors in every game.
In June 1950, Le Moyne became a charter member of the Eastern Catholic Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (ECIAC).[26][27] After only one season, the ECIAC ceased publicizing itself as a conference and became an association of its member schools with no basketball champion crowned, leaving Le Moyne an independent again for 1951–52.[28]
In June 1955, Le Moyne became a charter member of the new Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA).[29][30]
The Dolphins produced seven winning campaigns and only two losing records in the first 10 seasons of their varsity program. They made their first postseason appearance in only their second season with no seniors on the roster at the 1950 Utica Optimist Club Invitational Tournament and took the title.[31][32] Le Moyne followed up by repeating as champions in Utica in 1951[33][34][35] and 1952.[36][37]
The Dolphins participated in the prestigious National Catholic Invitational Tournament (NCIT) in both 1951 and 1952. At the 1951 tournament, Le Moyne defeated archrival Siena, ranked no. 18 in the AP major program poll, on the Indians' home floor, the Dolphins' first victory over a ranked major program.[38][39] Le Moyne finished third in the 1951 tournament[40] and reached the quarterfinals in 1952.[41]
The Dolphins had 25 wins over University Division/major programs during their first decade, three of which came against opponents ranked in the AP major program poll. Their record against such foes was 25–49, including 3–4 versus ranked teams.
Don Savage was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in 1951, and, as of 2025,[update] he is the only former Dolphin to play in the NBA. Savage was selected as the most valuable player of the 1950 and 1951 Utica Optimist Club tournaments and named to the 1951 NCIT all-tournament team. He ended his collegiate career as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer with 1,341 points in three varsity seasons. Dick Kenyon, who played varsity basketball for four years, surpassed Savage's career total in 1956, finishing with 1,378 points.
The 1958–59 season marked the start of a golden era for Le Moyne Dolphins basketball. They appeared in seven of the 11 NCAA College Divisiontournaments between 1959 and 1969, reaching the Sweet 16 in 1959 and 1964.
The Dolphins were co-champions of the MECAA and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1959, ranked no. 20 nationally in the small college coaches poll.[42] The Dolphins reached the Sweet 16, where they lost at Saint Michael's[43] to finish the season 18–6. Junior Dick Lynch was unanimously named to the NCAA tournament All-Regional team and was also named to the All-MECAA first team for the second straight year. Senior Bob Hollembaek made the All-MECAA second team, and sophomore Chuck Sammons earned honorable mention. Dolphins head coach Tommy Niland was unanimously selected as 1959 MECAA coach of the year.[44][45] Lynch also earned honorable mention on the Catholic All-America team.[46]
The Dolphins won the MECAA championship outright and made their second straight NCAA tournament appearance in 1960. They lost the regional semifinal game to Saint Anselm and the regional third-place game to Assumption to finish 13–5. Le Moyne's head coach, Tommy Niland, was unanimously chosen as 1960 MECAA coach of the year. Niland was also named Catholic small college coach of the year. Dick Lynch was named a MECAA All-Star, a first-team Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) small college All-Star and a second-team Catholic small college All-Star. John Caveny and Bill Stanley were both named All-MECAA second team.[47][48][49] The 1959–60 Dolphins were inducted into the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team in 2011.[50]
MECAA tournament title and an on-campus home (1960–1963)
The MECA organized an in-season tournament in December 1960, hosted by Saint Peter's. The Dolphins defeated the host Peacocks,[51][52]Iona[53][54] and Long Island[55] to win the tournament title. Bill Stanley had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the final and was named the tournament most valuable player.[56]
The Dolphins had their 22-game home winning streak snapped by Saint Anselm, losing, 83–68, on January 6, 1961. The Dolphins' previous home loss had been a 65–50 drubbing at the hands of St. Bonaventure on February 5, 1958.[57][58][59] In early January, Le Moyne was ranked no. 13 in the country among all Catholic schools, including both University Division and College Division institutions.[60] However, the Dolphins fell out of the rankings after the loss to Saint Anselm.
Bill Stanley grabbed 22 rebounds to break his own program record and scored a game-high 24 points in the Dolphins 73–69 loss at Buffalo State on February 2, 1961.[61]
The losses of Bill Stanley, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, and Chris Pitman, a key rotation player off the bench, to injuries was too much for the Dolphins to overcome down the stretch,[62] and they lost four of their final six games, finishing 16–7 in collegiate contests. Stanley was unanimously named a 1961 MECAA All-Star. John Caveny and Tom Burns were named second-team MECAA All-Stars.[63]
The Dolphins were 13–9 overall and 4–1 in MECAA play in 1961–62, winning their third conference championship. Bill Stanley was the 1962 MECAA most valuable player and Tommy Niland was the conference's coach of the year. It was the first time a Le Moyne player had earned a conference MVP award and the third MECAA coach of the year honor for Niland. It was Stanley's second straight MECAA All-Star selection. John Caveny was named to the MECAA All-Star second team.[64]
The Dolphins' first game in their new Le Moyne Athletic Center was a 43–41 victory over archrival Siena on December 1, 1962.[65][66]
The Dolphins suffered through a mid-season slump and finished the 1962–63 season with a 12–10 record in collegiate contests. Mickey Flynn was named All-MECAA first team.[67]
The Dolphins returned to the NCAA tournament in 1964, for the first time in four years. They entered the tournament as MECAA champions with a 4–1 league record and 17–5 overall and winners of five straight and 14 of their previous 15 games. The Dolphins had two victories over University Division opponents.[68][69][70][71][72] Le Moyne defeated Youngstown State, ranked no. 6 in the College Division poll,[73]:8 in the regional semifinals,[74] but lost in the Mideast Regional Final Sweet 16 game to Akron.[75]:26[76][77][78]
Tommy Niland was named 1964 MECAA coach of the year, the fourth time he was so honored,[79] Gary DeYulia was named All-MECAA first team, and Tom Cooney was selected for the second team.[80] DeYulia was also named an ECAC All-Star.[81]
In April 1964, Le Moyne College announced that it would sponsor and participate in a four-team Christmas invitational basketball tournament to take place on December 29 and 30.[82][83] The Dolphins won the tournament, and Gary DeYulia was named most valuable player.[84][85]
During the 1964–65 season, the Dolphins had a 15-game winning streak that improved their record to 17–2.[86] Le Moyne accepted a bid to host the Northeast Regionals of the 1965 NCAA College Division tournament. Dolphins head coach Tommy Niland was named tournament director for the regional.[87][88][89]
In 1965, The Dolphins won their second straight MECAA championship with a 4–1 league record[90] and entered the NCAA tournament 18–3, including 3–0 against University Division opponents.[91][92][93][94] However, they lost to Assumption, 76–58,[95][96] and dropped the regional third-place game to Hartwick, 70–68.[75]:26[97][98][99]
Gary DeYulia was named a 1965 ECAC first-team All-Star,[100] received honorable mention for the 1965 Little All-America team[101] and was honored as first-team All-MECAA. Tom Mullen was named second-team all-conference, and Tommy Niland won his fifth MECAA coach of the year award.[102]
For the second straight season, the Dolphins hosted NCAA tournament regional games in 1966.[103][104][105] Le Moyne entered the tournament 14–5, including two wins against University Division opponents,[106][107][108] but lost their first-round game to Philadelphia Textile, 83–61.[109][110] Le Moyne defeated Potsdam State in their consolation game, 86–63.[75]:26 Gary DeYulia had 25 points in the consolation game, giving him 51 for the two tournament games, and was named a Northeast Region Section B All-Star.[111][112]
After the tournament, the Dolphins closed the regular-season with a with an 88–72 home victory over Siena to finish 16–6.[113][114] Gary DeYulia finished his career with 1,212 points, second on Le Moyne's all-time scoring list.[115]
Gary DeYulia was named 1966 MECAA player of the year. Tom Mullen was selected second-team all-MECAA.[116] DeYulia was also named to the first-team small Catholic college all-America squad and to the small college all-America team[117] and received honorable mention on the Little All-America squad.[118]
A rebuilding year and two more NCAA tournament berths (1966–1969)
After struggling through an 11–10 season in 1966–67, the Dolphins regained their form and, led by captain Gerry McDermott, went 14–8 in 1967–68, including a trip to the NCAA tournament.
With Gerry McDermott slowed by an injury and able to play only limited minutes, Buffalo State used their size advantage to control the boards and defeat the Dolphins, 83–66, in the first round of the tournament. Tom Downey scored 13 points to lead Le Moyne. McDermott finished with eight points.[75]:27[119]
Northeastern defeated the Dolphins in the consolation game of the Northeast Region's Section B, 67–54. Senior Dave Cary came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points for Le Moyne. Gerry McDermott exacerbated his left heel injury in the Buffalo State game and did not play.[75]:27[120]
Gerry McDermott was named to the second team of the 1968 NCAA District 2 College Division All-Stars.[121]
The Dolphins were 4–1 in MECAA play in 1968–69,[122] and shared the conference championship with Saint Peter's.[123]
The Dolphins received their second straight invitation to the NCAA tournament in 1969, the fifth time in six years they reached the tournament, and were selected to host the East Regionals.[124][125] Matt Fallis had been suffering from an ankle injury but was able to play in the Dolphins' first-round game against Montclair State and finished with 12 points. However, Le Moyne fell to the Indians, 81–77. Chuck Brady scored a game-high 24 points for the Dolphins.[126]
The Dolphins jumped all over Albany State (NY) in the regional third-place game and had a 20-point advantage early in the second half. However, the Great Danes fought back and took a 71–70 victory.[75]:27 Bob Bradley scored 24 points for the Dolphins and was named to the East Region all-tournament team.[127][128] The Dolphins finished the season 15–8. They were 13–6 against College Division opponents and 2–2 versus University Division foes.
The Dolphins' 1969–70 season featured the debut of Phil Harlow,[130][131] who would later become Le Moyne's all-time career scoring leader while still a junior.[132]
After NCAA tournament bids in each of the previous two seasons, expectations were high, and the Dolphins were ranked no. 1 among Upstate New York small college teams in pre-season polling conducted by the Upstate Sports Information Directors Council.[133] However, after a loss at Buffalo on February 21,[134] dropped the Dolphins to 7–10 on the season, the team needed wins in its final four games to finish with a winning record.[135] Victories over Ithaca,[136] Saint Michael's,[137]Cortland State,[138] and Siena[139] gave the Dolphins a four-game winning streak to close the season at 11–10. It was the 12th consecutive winning season and 18th straight non-losing season for the Dolphins. However, this was the first season since the NCAA split into the divisions in 1956, in which the Dolphins failed to earn a victory over a University Division opponent. Le Moyne was 11–6 against College Division teams and 0–4 versus University Division foes.
The Dolphins finished the 1970–71 season 9–12, their first losing record since 1951–52. Le Moyne was 1–4 against University Division opponents and 8–8 versus College Division foes.
Phil Harlow became Le Moyne's all-time leading career scorer on March 4, 1972.[132] The Dolphins rebounded from their losing season and finished 13–10 in 1971–72.[140]
On November 16, 1972, Le Moyne announced that Tommy Niland would resign as head coach at the end of the 1972–73 season, but would continue in his role as athletic director. Niland cited a desire to spend more time with his family as a reason for his decision.[141][142] On December 19, Le Moyne announced that assistant coach Tom Cooney would succeed Niland. Cooney played for three seasons on Le Moyne's varsity team and was captain during the 1963–64 season. Prior to becoming Niland's assistant, Cooney was the head coach at St. Vincent de Paul High School in Syracuse for three seasons.[143]
The Dolphins defeated St. Francis (NY) on February 6, 1973, improving to 9–5 overall and completing their conference slate with a perfect 5–0 record.[144][145] The MECAA championship was the Dolphins' seventh league title.
Tommy Niland closed his coaching career with a 65–61 loss at archrival Siena on March 3, 1973. The Dolphins were 13–9 overall in his final season, and as of 2025,[update] his 324 wins and seven NCAA tournament appearances both remain the most ever by a Le Moyne head coach. Phil Harlow scored 29 points in his final collegiate game to finish as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer with 1,823 points.[146]
Le Moyne became a Division II institution, when the College Division was split in 1973.
Tom Cooney earned his first head coaching victory in his second game at the helm, a 76–74 upset at Potsdam State on December 4, 1973.[147]
Senior co-captain Rick May became the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points[148] and also became the first Le Moyne player to record 1,000 career rebounds during the 1973–74 season.[149]
The Dolphins finished the 1973–74 season 14–10, on a four-game winning streak and with victories in seven of their final eight games. The Dolphins were 4–5 against teams that secured bids to the 1974 NCAA Division II tournament and 2–2 versus Division I foes.[150]
After starting the 1974–75 season 0–4 and 3–8,[151] the Dolphins rebounded to finish 14–11 and earned three victories over Division I opponents.[152][153][154]
Jene Grey, who would finish as Le Moyne's second leading career scorer and rebounder, made his collegiate debut in the 1975–76 season.[155][156] The Dolphins started the campaign 0–4,[157] and did not win a road game until February.[158] Le Moyne ended the season 12–12.[159] Despite the troubling start, the Dolphins earned a home win against Gannon,[160] ranked no. 4 in the NCAA Division II poll[73]:23 and defeated Division I Iona,[161] their 60th all-time victory over a Division I/major program.
John Lauer was named to the 1976 ECAC Division II all-conference team[162] and second-team Division II All-New York State.[163] Lauer became the 11th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.[159] Freshman Jene Grey received honorable mention ECAC Division II.[164]
New NCAA rules regarding scheduling and conference membership effective in 1976, made continuation of the MECAA impractical, and the conference was dissolved. Le Moyne began competing as an independent, ending their 21 seasons in the conference with seven league championships.
Despite three starters missing time with injuries or illness,[165][166][167][168] the 1976–77 Dolphins went 4–0 against Division I opponents.[169][170][171][172] The Dolphins were 12–6 in mid February and on the short list of teams under consideration for an NCAA tournament berth.[173][174] However, the 14–7 Dolphins were passed over by the NCAA tournament selectors.[175] Le Moyne finished the season 15–7 and a perfect 11–0 at home. John Lauer finished his collegiate career fourth on Le Moyne's all-time scoring list. Pete Hogan finished as the sixth-highest scorer in Dolphins history.[176]
The Dolphins' record reached its peak at 12–9 following a season-high five-game winning streak, but they lost four of their final five contests to finish the 1977–78 season 13–13.[177]
With the Dolphins' record at 10–7 on February 11, 1979, head coach Tom Cooney informed his players that he was resigning effective at the end of the season.[178][179][180] During halftime of their final home game of the season, Le Moyne athletic director Tommy Niland announced that Mike Lee would take over as the Dolphins' head coach at the conclusion of the season.[181]
The Dolphins finished the 1978–79 season 14–10. Jene Grey finished with career totals of 1,729 points and 969 rebounds, both second in program history. Tom Cooney finished his head coaching career 82–63.[182]
Mike Lee, a former three-year starter and captain of the Syracuse Orangemen,[183] led the Dolphins to their worst record in program history at 6–19 in 1979–80, his first season as head coach. Le Moyne followed up with an even worse record at 5–21 the following season.
Mike Lee's Dolphins improved in his third and fourth seasons, and he led Le Moyne to a winning record in his final campaign. Players recruited by Lee, including Wright Lassiter, Paul Galvin and Bobby Chestnut, would go on to play key roles on more successful Dolphin teams after Lee's departure.
Mike McDermott scored 24 points to become the 14th player in program history to score 1,000 points for his career in the Dolphins' 69–68 home loss against Bloomsburg State, ranked no. 11 in the Division II poll at the time,[73]:29 on February 10, 1982.[184]
The Dolphins joined the Mideast Collegiate Conference (MECC)[185] in John Beilein's first season[186][187][188] and went undefeated in league play to win the conference regular-season championship.[189] However, Le Moyne lost their MECC tournament semifinal game[190] and were not selected for an at-large bid to the 1984 NCAA tournament. The 1983–84 season marked the first time in program history that the Dolphins won 20 games.[191]
Scott Hicks and Pete Jerebko, both of whom would become Le Moyne Hall of Famers, arrived as freshmen in 1984.[192] Despite a solid 19-win campaign in 1984–85, the Dolphins failed to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. Wright Lassiter had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Dolphins and passed the 1,000 career points mark in Le Moyne's 78–75 double overtime loss to Philadelphia Textile on January 11, 1985.[193][194] Bobby Chestnut scored 10 points to join Lassier in the 1,000-point club in the Dolphins' 74–62 loss at C.W. Post on January 27.[195][196] Lassiter and Chestnut were named second-team All-MECC for the 1984–85 season. Lassiter was the league's leading rebounder at 9.7 per game. Pete Jerebko was named to the MECC's all-freshmen team. He was second in the conference in field-goal percentage at 61.9%, trailing teammate James Henderson, who hit at a 62.1% clip.[197]
After a losing season marred by injuries, illness and suspensions, despite James Henderson reaching 1,000 career points[198] and Pete Jerebko and Walter Hill being named 1986 second-team MECC All-Stars,[199] Le Moyne bounced back with their second 20-win season in 1986–87.[200] However, after falling in the MECC tournament,[201] Le Moyne was not selected for an at-large bid to the 1987 NCAA tournament. Hill and Scott Hicks were named 1987 first-team all-MECC. James Henderson was named to the second team.[202] Jerebko became the 20th player in program history with 1,000 career points in the Dolphins' 97–82 loss at St. Michael's on February 7, 1987.[203]
Len Rauch, who would go on to finish his college career as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, arrived for his freshmen season in 1987.[204][205] Scott Hicks, Pete Jerebko and Rauch led the Dolphins to the regular-season co-championship of the MECC,[206] the conference tournament title[207] and a berth in the 1988 NCAA tournament.
After more than 11 years since the last meeting between the teams, the Dolphins renewed their rivalry with Division I Siena on December 5, 1987.[208] Le Moyne suffered a difficult road loss, 75–70. Freshman Len Rauch led the Dolphins with 25 points and 14 rebounds.[209] Scott Hicks scored 12 points for Le Moyne, surpassing 1,000 points for his career.[210][211]
Following a 78–71 road win at Philadelphia Textile, which improved the Dolphins' record to 17–4 overall and 6–1 in MECC play,[212] Le Moyne was ranked no. 16 in the NCAA Division II poll on February 15, 1988.[73]:35[213] It was the Dolphins' first appearance in a major poll since finishing the 1964–65 season no. 14 in the United Press International (UPI) small college coaches' poll.[73]:328
The Dolphins lost in the first round of the 1988 NCAA tournament to California (PA)[214][215] but rebounded to defeat Kutztown in the regional third-place game.[216]
The team's 24 wins in 1987–88 were the most in program history up to that point. John Beilein was named 1988 MECC coach of the year. Pete Jerebko was selected as MECC player of the year and senior of the year. Len Rauch was MECC freshman of the year. Scott Hicks joined Jerebko on all-MECC first team. Rauch was second-team all-MECC.[217] The 1987–88 Dolphins were inducted into the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team in 2017.[218]
The Dolphins followed up their return to the NCAA tournament with four straight winning campaigns, but inconsistent play kept them out of the postseason. Len Rauch starred during his final three seasons, becoming Le Moyne's all-time leading career scorer[219] and rebounder[220] but feuded with head coach John Beilein.[221][222] Rauch had three triple-doubles during his final three seasons,[223][224][225][226][227][228] giving him all of the four triple-doubles ever recorded by a Dolphin.
The Dolphins started the 1988–89 season 5–8, but won 10 of their next 12 games to improve to 15–10. Key wins during the run came against Gannon, ranked no. 12 in Division II,[73]:36 and Army. The Dolphins had lost 18 straight games versus Division I opponents, a streak that began in 1977. The Dolphins' 77–70 victory on February 7, 1989, at West Point[229][230] would ultimately prove to be the final time Le Moyne defeated a Division I team as a Division II program.
The Dolphins lost their 1989 MECC quarterfinal game at Pace, 79–61, on March 4.[231][232] Len Rauch was the 1989 MECC sophomore of the year[232] and named to the Division II All-East team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.[233]
The 1989–90 season was the last under the leadership of Tommy Niland, Le Moyne's athletic director since 1947, and the head basketball coach for the program's first 25 varsity seasons.[234] In January 1990, long-time Le Moyne baseball coach Dick Rockwell was chosen as Niland's successor.[235]
The Dolphins lost their 1990 MECC semifinal game at Gannon on March 9, 55–53.[236] The Dolphins also lost the tournament third-place game and finished their season 17–12.[237] Len Rauch was named 1990 first-team All-MECC, and Tom Herhusky was named to the second team.[238] During the 1989–90 season, Russell Barnes surpassed 1,000 for his collegiate career.[239]
As the no. 3 seed in the 1991 MECC tournament, the Dolphins defeated Mercyhurst, 86–58, in the MECC quarterfinals.[240] Len Rauch passed the 500-career-assist threshold in the contest.[241] Le Moyne fell to Pace, 87–68, in their semifinal game on March 8.[242] The Dolphins completed their season with an 86–84 overtime loss to Gannon in the tournament consolation game, finishing 19–10.[243]
Len Rauch was named third-team Division II All-America,[244] the first player in program history to be named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches,[245] and All-East District II second team.[246] Rauch was also 1991 MECC player of the year and first-team All-MECC. Joe Girard was MECC rookie of the year. Tom Herhusky was second-team All-MECC.[247]
Following the dissolution of the MECC,[248] the Dolphins played the 1991–92 season as an independent and committed to join the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in 1992.[249]
After starting the season 8–11, the Dolphins won their final seven games to finish the campaign 15–11.[250] Freshman Mike Montesano, a future Le Moyne Hall of Famer, was named 1992 ECAC Division II co-rookie of the year.[251]
On April 9, 1992, John Beilein stepped down as head coach of the Dolphins to take the same position at Canisius. In nine years at Le Moyne, Beilein finished 163–94. His .634 winning percentage was the best for any Dolphins head coach up to that point.[252]
Hicks is first Dolphin to play and coach in NCAA tournament (1992–1997)
The Dolphins hired Scott Hicks as their new head coach on May 22, 1992,[253] as they prepared for their first season as a member of the NECC.[254][255] Hicks was the youngest men's basketball head coach across the NCAA's three divisions during each of his first two seasons at the helm.[256][257]
Chris Granozio and Don Familo, both 1986 Le Moyne graduates, replaced Peter Stoyan calling Dolphins games on the radio in 1992. Granozio handled play-by-play, and Familo provided the color on WVOA-FM.[258]As of 2025[update], Granozio and Familo remain the voices of Dolphins basketball on radio, and, since 2023, their radio feed has been simulcast on Le Moyne's home games on NEC Front Row, the Northeast Conference's streaming platform.
Le Moyne's athletic programs moved to the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10) starting with the 1996–97 academic year.[259] The Dolphins won their final tournament as a NECC member in 1996,[260] and their first NE10 tournament in 1997,[261] earning automatic bids to the NCAA tournament each year. The Dolphins were eliminated in the first round of both NCAA tournaments.[75]:29–30[262][263]
The Dolphins' run to the 1997 NE10 tournament title and NCAA tournament appearance came as a Cinderella. Le Moyne finished the regular season 10–16 overall and 7–11 in NE10 play, earning the no. 7 seed in the conference tournament.[264] The Dolphins upset the no. 2 seed on the road in the quarterfinals[265] and the no. 3 seed in the semifinals,[266] before beating the no. 4 seed in the final.[267] Le Moyne was the only club in the field of 48 NCAA tournament teams with a losing record.[268] The Dolphins' quick exit from the NCAA tournament closed out the first losing campaign for head coach Scott Hicks and the first for the program since the 1985–86 season.[263]
The Dolphins were picked seventh in the 1992–93 pre-season NECC coaches poll but earned the no. 3 seed in the NECC tournament and home-court advantage for their quarterfinal game.[269] After a win in the NECC quarterfinals,[270][271] the Dolphins suffered a two-point loss in the semifinals and finished the season 18–10.[272]
Before the start of the 1993–94 season, Le Moyne announced that six unnamed male athletes would be suspended from competition for gambling on major college sporting events. The NCAA approved Le Moyne's remediation plan and granted reinstatement to all six.[257][273][274] The names of and sports played by the suspended athletes were not disclosed, but Adam Stockwell missed the first seven games of the campaign,[275] and Mike Montesano was not in the lineup for the first eight.[276]
Despite a solid regular season, the Dolphins' 1993–94 campaign ended with an 87–79 home loss to Massachusetts Lowell, a team they had beaten twice in the regular season, in the NECC quarterfinals.[277][278]
During the head coaching tenure of Scott Hicks, six Dolphins surpassed 1,000 career points scored: John Haas,[279] Christian Buchholz,[269] Joe Girard,[280] Dan Sandel,[281] Mike Montesano[282] and Adam Stockwell.[283] Haas also topped 500 career assists. In Haas's assist-milestone game, the Dolphins set new program records for free throws made and attempted, going 42 for 50 from the line.[284]
Mike Montesano was named 1993 second-team All-NECC. Dan Sandel finished 11th in rebounding in Division II for the season with an average of 10.5 per game. The Dolphins were second in free-throw shooting in Division II, connecting on 75.6% of their charity tosses.[285]
Dan Sandel was named 1994 first-team All-NECC, and Mike Montesano was named to the second team.[286] Joe Girard was named 1994 first-team District I Academic All-America in February[287] and National Academic All-America in March 1994.[286]
Mike Montesano scored 35 points in the Dolphins' 1995 NECC quarterfinal victory[288] and was named to the all-tournament team.[289] He was also named 1995 first-team All-NECC,[290] second-team Division II All-District for the Northeast Region,[291] and second-team Division II All-American.[292]
Adam Stockwell was named 1996 first-team All-NECC,[293] first-team District I Academic All-American, first-team All-ECAC Division II North and All-Northeast Region.[294] The 1995–96 Dolphins were inducted into the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team in 2025.[295]
In May 1997, Scott Hicks resigned as the Dolphins' head coach to take the same position at Albany (NY), which was planning to transition to Division I. Hicks was 87–56 in his five years at Le Moyne.[296]
On June 18, 1997, Le Moyne introduced Dave Paulsen as the Dolphins' new head coach. Assistant coaches Gallagher Driscoll and Sean McDonnell committed to remain on Paulsen's staff.[297] Jim "Duke" McGrath, a Le Moyne alumnus from the class of 1962, joined the staff as a volunteer assistant coach.[298]Tobin Anderson was also added to the staff as an assistant coach.[299]
The Dolphins went on a foreign tour to London between August 9 and 19, 1997.[297] Le Moyne played three teams from the British Basketball League, losing all three games, and earned a win against an amateur club team.[300]
First-year head coach Dave Paulsen planned to change the team's defensive approach from primarily zone to man-to-man and install a motion offense instead of running set plays. The players were receptive to the changes. Redshirt senior Bryan Menar, who was a member of the committee that selected the new head coach, praised Paulsen's confidence, noting that was an important trait in a leader.[301][302]
The Dolphins entered the 1998 NE10 tournament 19–7, having won both of their games against ranked Division II opponents.[303][304][305] Nevertheless, the Dolphins had lost, 87–82, at NAIA Division I Roberts Wesleyan on February 11, despite a 31-point, 12-rebound effort from John Tomsich. The Raiders improved to 10–16 with the win, which likely damaged Le Moyne's chances for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.[306]
The Dolphins finished tied for second place in the NE10 and were the no. 3 seed in the 1998 NE10 tournament and hosted no. 6 seed Saint Michael's in a quarterfinal game on February 23. Le Moyne entered the game having lost two of their final three regular-season games, but the Dolphins were well rested, having not played since eight days earlier. Le Moyne defeated the Purple Knights, 101–93. John Tomsich had a double-double for Le Moyne wth 29 points and 10 rebounds. Keith Moyer had a career-high 23 points and dished six assists, and Michael Culley added 20 points for the Dolphins. Walk-on Kevin Moyer finished with 16 points, playing 26 minutes off the bench. The win, Le Moyne's 20th of the season, improved the Dolphins' home record to 16–0 in 1997–98, and was their 17th straight victory at the Henninger Athletic Center dating back to the 1996–97 campaign.[307]
The Dolphins fell, 102–84, on the road to no. 2 seed Assumption in the NE10 semifinals on February 25. The Dolphins finished the season 20–8, reaching the 20-win plateau for the fifth time in the 50-year history of the program, all of which occurred during the most recent 15 seasons.[308]
John Tomsich was named 1998 first-team All-NE10 and to the Division II All-Northeast Region team.[309] Tomsich passed 1,000 career points scored during the season.[310] Keith Moyer led the NE10 in assists per game with 7.7,[311] which ranked him seventh in Division II.[312]
Effective for the 1998–99 academic year, Le Moyne instituted a random drug testing program for all student-athletes. Le Moyne planned to apply for membership in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and transition to Division I,[313] where drug testing was required.[314]
The Dolphins' 18-game home winning streak was snapped, when they lost to East Stroudsburg, 74–73, on November 21, 1998. John Tomsich scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked two shots to lead Le Moyne.[315]
Kevin Moyer scored 29 points and dished nine assists, leading the Dolphins to an 85–83 upset victory at Saint Anselm, ranked no. 15 in the NCAA Division II Bulletin poll,[73]:47 on January 11, 1999.[316] This was the final game of eight consecutive contests, five of them true road games, the Dolphins played away from home. Le Moyne went 34 days between home games and spent about 40 hours traveling 2,820 miles to play games in six different states. The Dolphins won five of the eight games on the road trip.[317]
John Tomsich scored 39 points, the most by a Le Moyne player in 28 years, and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 73–63 victory over Bryant on January 18. Tomisch was 11 for 18 from the field. The rest of the team shot 10 for 29 (34%). The Dolphins reached a season-high 12 games above .500 at 12–5 overall and 7–2 in NE10 play.[318] After Saint Michael's lost at Pace two days later, the Dolphins and Purple Knights were tied for first place in the NE10.[319] However, Le Moyne fell out of first place with a 67–62 upset loss on January 23, at American International, who had entered the game 1–8 in NE10 play.[320]
The Dolphins regained a share of first place with a 75–73 home victory over Saint Michael's on January 27.[321] Five days later, the Dolphins had a 65–59 lead with 5:20 to play in their game at Stonehill. The Chieftains closed the game on a 17–8 run and earned a 76–73 win, ending their six-game losing streak and handing Le Moyne their second straight loss, which knocked the Dolphins out of a first-place tie.[322]
Playing at home in their February 19 regular-season finale, the Dolphins fell to Pace, the top ranked team in the Northeast Region, 85–72. The loss was the seventh straight for Le Moyne, dropping them to 8–10 in NE10 play, tied for sixth place in the league. Just 18 days earlier, they took the court tied for first place. The Dolphins won the tiebreaker for the no. 6 seed in the conference tournament.[323]
The Dolphins' epic collapse concluded with their eighth straight loss despite a valiant effort in the NE10 quarterfinals at no. 3 seed Saint Michael's on February 22. With John Tomsich slowed by flu-like symptoms, Le Moyne managed a 10-point lead with 9:48 to play. The Purple Knights went on a run and secured a 61–59 victory. Tomsich was limited to six points on 2-for-10 shooting from the floor, eight rebounds and four assists in his final collegiate game. He finished his career with 1,760 points, third in program history, and 1,015 rebounds, also third all-time. The Dolphins finished their season 13–14 overall.[324] The season-ending losing streak was the longest for Le Moyne since dropping 13 straight during the 1980–81 season.
John Tomisch was named 1999 NE10 defensive player of the year and first-team All-NE10.[325] Tomsich also repeated as first-team Division II All-Northeast Region[326] and was named a second-team Division II All-American.[327] Tomisch ranked seventh in Division II in blocked shots with 264. Kevin Moyer's 179 assists were the fifth best single-season total in program history.[328]
In October 1999, the Dolphins began participating in the Dream to Read program. Players visited classrooms of local elementary schools, engaged with the students, encouraging them to read, and read a book aloud to them. The effort was organized by Le Moyne's new assistant coach, Jonathan Tsipis.[329]
On November 20, 1999, the Dolphins upset California (PA), ranked no. 11 in the NCAA Division II Bulletin preseason poll,[73]:119 75–65 in overtime, to win the Buzz Ridl Classic. Freshman Dwayne Pean converted a three-point play with 32 seconds left that knotted the score and forced the extra session. The Dolphins dominated play after regulation, outscoring California, 14–4, getting seven of their points from freshman Kyle Chapman. Myles Howard led Le Moyne with a game-high 24 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player.[330]
Le Moyne hosted a multi-team event for the first time in six years on December 29 and 30. The event was an unbracketed showcase promoted as the inaugural Holiday Inn Invitational.[331] During warmups for the Dolphins' game against Southampton, ranked no. 4 in the Northeast Region of Division II, the Colonials gathered at the center-court logo, and their center, Mark Person, shouted, "This is our house!" as his teammates jumped up and down, clapping their hands. The Dolphins sat quietly on their bench and watched. The game was tight, until Michael Culley came off the bench and drained three triples in just over two minutes, putting Le Moyne ahead, 27–19. The Dolphins went on to win, 101–87.[332]
Michael Culley surpassed 1,000 career points in the Dolphins' 74–66 loss in their NE10 home opener against Pace on January 6, 2000. Although Le Moyne successfully slowed Pace's high-octane offense, which was averaging nearly 100 points per game,[333] the Dolphins shot only 43% from the floor. Le Moyne's frustration was evident, when Kyle Chapman threw an errant inbounds pass that was caught by Dolphins head coach Dave Paulsen, who hurled it toward the gym exit.[334]
Two days after setting a new mark for most points allowed in a home game in a 105–77 loss to Merrimack, the Dolphins surrendered even more points and suffered the worst home loss in program history, 108–66, to Saint Anselm on January 10. The loss was the 13th straight in conference regular-season play and third straight overall for the Dolphins, who fell to 6–7 overall and 0–6 in NE10 play.[335]
The Dolphins ended losing streaks of five games overall, 15 straight in conference regular-season play and 16 in a row against NE10 foes with a 74–71 home win on January 22, against American International, the team with the best overall record in the league. Le Moyne's most recent win against an NE10 opponent had been at home against Saint Michael's on January 27, 1999, a victory that put the Dolphins into a first-place tie in the league.[336]
The Dolphins were officially eliminated from contention for a berth in the NE10 tournament after an 82–67 loss at Merrimack on February 7.[337]
The Dolphins lost their season finale, 90–82, at home to Saint Michael's on February 23. Michael Culley had a team-high 17 points in his final collegiate game. He finished as Le Moyne's all-time leader in career three-point field goals with 305.[338] The loss was the third straight for the Dolphins and their 13th in 16 games, leaving them 9–17 overall and 2–16 in NE10 play, last in the conference standings.[339][340]
On July 4, 2000, Dolphins head coach Dave Paulsen resigned to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, Division III Williams.[341][342]
Steve Evans era (2000–2015)
Le Moyne introduced Steve Evans as their new men's basketball head coach on August 4, 2000, replacing the departed Dave Paulsen. Evans had previously served as a Dolphins assistant under Scott Hicks from 1994 to 1996. He left Le Moyne for an assistant coach position at Division I Siena. After three years, he moved on to Northwestern, where he worked as an assistant during the 1999–2000 season. While working as a part-time assistant at Le Moyne, Evans was elected as the youngest city council member in the history of the city of Rome, New York. Evans, 29 years old at the time of his hiring, was a four-year starter and senior-year captain at Union (NY) and graduated from the school in 1994.[343]
There were about 60 applicants for the vacant head coaching position. Once the search committee narrowed the field to five candidates, they were all interviewed at Le Moyne on August 1. Aside from Steve Evans, the four other finalists were Le Moyne assistant Sean McDonnell, Kevin Broderick, who was the head coach at Oswego State and endorsed by former Dolphins head coach John Beilein, Tom Spanbauer, head coach at Cortland State, and Walt Townes, an assistant at Rutgers.[344]
The Dolphins lost five seniors to graduation in 2000. Juniors Steve Vega and Tom Patton, sophomores Kyle Chapman and Jamar Hubbard and redshirt freshman Brett Barnard all returned for the 2000–01 season. Five players decided to leave the team at the end of the previous season. Jakub Hrabovský returned to his native Czech Republic for an educational opportunity, leaving Le Moyne with no seniors. Dwayne Pean and Chip James left to be closer to their homes. Pean transferred to Barton.[345] Myles Howard withdrew from Le Moyne with plans to pursue a football career. Howard continued his basketball career instead after transferring to Alcorn State.[346] Nick Redhead transferred to Clarkson.[347] Former head coach Dave Paulsen knew early on that the Dolphins would need a large recruiting class. Rob Thorpe, a 5'11" point guard from Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, made a verbal commitment to play at Le Moyne in September 1999.[348] Brendan Bayly, a 6'10" center from Averill Park, and Al Drechsler, a 6'7" small forward from Greece Athena, also committed during the fall of 1999. Chris Henry, a 6'4" forward from Fayetteville–Manlius, signed in May 2000. Henry averaged 18 points and eight rebounds as a high school senior and was third-team All-Central New York.[349] Jason Coleman, a 6'1" point guard from Bishop Maginn High School, who was first-team All-Greater Albany, signed in the spring along with Jamie McArdle, a 6'6" small forward, who was third-team All-Greater Rochester.[350] Rashad Richards, a 6'4" forward from Corcoran, who was first-team All-Central New York, averaging 19.2 points, 15 rebounds and two assists per game as a high school senior, signed with the Dolphins in May,[351] but redshirted his freshman year. Brian Robertson, a 6'4" shooting guard, was the final freshman to sign.[352] Le Moyne was the youngest team in the NCAA during the 2000–01 season.[353] Chris Jacobs, formerly an administrative assistant at Northwestern,[354] and Jeff "Spud" Collins, formerly an assistant at Archbishop Alter High School, in Kettering, Ohio, joined the staff as assistant coaches.[355]
Head coach Steve Evans planned to play a pressing, up-tempo style and use a deep rotation with every player on the roster getting significant playing time. Evans expected that good conditioning and keeping players fresh would give the Dolphins an advantage in the closing minutes of games. Le Moyne, with a roster comprising eight freshmen (including one who redshirted the previous season), two sophomores and two juniors, was picked to finish last in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.[352][356]
The Dolphins opened their season with a 91–70 loss to Binghamton, in the opener of the Susse Chalet Bryant Basketball Classic on November 18. Le Moyne trailed by only five points at the break but surrendered a 14–4 run midway through the second half. The Dolphins were outrebounded, 43–20. Kyle Champman and Brett Barnard each scored 12 points to lead Le Moyne. Steve Vega added six points and three assists.[357]
The following day, the Dolphins earned the first career win for head coach Steve Evans with a 93–83 victory over Puerto Rico–Río Piedras in the consolation game of the Bryant tournament. Kyle Chapman scored 24 points to lead Le Moyne. The Dolphins improved their rebounding and had a 45–40 advantage on the boards. Jamie McArdle and Brendan Bayly each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, and McArdle added 14 points. Steve Vega had 10 points and five assists.[358][359]
The Dolphins suffered a 51-point defeat, the worst in program history, at Saint Anselm, 117–66, on November 26, 2000. The 117 points Le Moyne allowed was the most in program history. The Dolphins were held to 29% shooting from the field and were led by Tom Patton and Jamie McArdle, who scored 12 points each.[360][361]
The Dolphins played their home opener on November 29, at the Onondaga County War Memorial, their first home game there since the 1978–79 season, as part of the festivities for the Tribute to Danny Biasone, the leading advocate for the shot clock, which the NBA ultimately adopted, while Biasone was the owner of the Syracuse Nationals. The event was organized by former Nationals star Dolph Schayes and attended by several of his former teammates, including Earl Lloyd, the first African American to play in the NBA. Biasone and Tommy Niland, longtime Dolphins head coach, were good friends, and Biasone willed to Le Moyne the actual shot clock he used for a 1954 demonstration for NBA officials. Le Moyne kept the shot clock and other Biasone memorabilia on display in the Danny Biasone Room inside the Henninger Athletic Center.[362] The Dolphins lost the game to Bentley, 104–75. Tom Patton scored 17 points to lead Le Moyne. Jason Coleman had 13 points and six rebounds, and Brendan Bayly added seven points and six rebounds. Kyle Chapman chipped in four points and nine assists for the Dolphins, who fell to 1–3 overall and 0–2 in NE10 play.[363]
The Dolphins' streak of four straight wins against ranked Division II opponents ended with a 95–83 home loss to Saint Michael's, ranked no. 25 in the NCAA Division II Bulletin poll, on December 9. In comparison with their recent blowout losses, Le Moyne's performance was encouraging. The Dolphins kept the game close, until the Purple Knights went on a run with about 13 minutes to play. During two spurts that consumed nine minutes, Saint Michael's outscored Le Moyne, 28–5. The Dolphins had a 78–67 advantage over the remaining 31 minutes of play. Brett Barnard scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Le Moyne. Steve Vega also had 17 points for the Dolphins. Jason Coleman added six points and five assists. Le Moyne's most recent loss against a ranked Division II opponent had been in the 1997 NCAA tournament. The loss was the fifth straight for the Dolphins, all against conference opponents, dropping them to 1–6 overall and 0–5 in NE10 play.[364]
Le Moyne hosted the Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic on December 29 and 30. In the opening round, the Dolphins defeated Southern Vermont, 96–66. Le Moyne held the Mountaineers to 34% shooting from the floor. Kyle Chapman led six Dolphins in double figures with 13 points. Brett Barnard scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Chris Henry added 10 points and six rebounds.[365]
In the tournament final, the Dolphins' defense overwhelmed Hartwick, and Le Moyne cruised to a 90–65 victory. The Dolphins held the Hawks to 34% shooting from the field and blocked 13 Hartwick shots. With the score tied at 15, Le Moyne went on a 40–13 run that culminated with scoring the first 14 points of the second half, putting the game out of reach. Jamie McArdle scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, earning tournament most valuable player honors. Rob Thorpe scored two points and had a game-high seven assists for the Dolphins. Kyle Chapman and Brett Barnard joined McArdle on the all-tournament team. Chapman had 11 points, and Barnard scored nine in the final.[366]
Freshman point guard Jason Coleman caught an outlet pass off a missed New Hampshire College free throw, drove to the basket and converted a three-point play to give the Dolphins a 73–70 lead with three seconds to play at Ted Grant Court on January 22, 2001. Coleman then stole the Penmen's inbounds pass and secured a victory that ended Le Moyne's seven-game losing streak. The Dolphins had a seven-point lead in the second half but fell behind by four with six minutes to play. Le Moyne battled back and tied the score at 65 with 3:30 remaining, and neither team led by more than two points, until Coleman's free throw in the closing seconds. Kyle Chapman scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Dolphins in his return from a two-game absence with the flu. Coleman finished with 10 points and six assists. Le Moyne improved to 4–13 overall and 1–12 in NE10 play.[367]
After a double overtime loss to Assumption in which Le Moyne had three-point leads in the final minute of both regulation and the first overtime,[368] the Dolphins called a players-only meeting led by sophomore Kyle Chapman. Le Moyne raced to a 16–2 lead in their February 13 home game against American International and built their advantage to 19 points in the second half. The Yellow Jackets battled back, cutting the deficit to five points with a minute to play. The Dolphins went 8 for 10 from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure an 81–70 victory, ending their five-game losing streak. Chapman led the way with his first double-double of the season, scoring 23 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing four assists. The Dolphins improved to 5–18 overall and 2–17 in NE10 play.[369]
The Dolphins wrapped up their season with an 80–66 home loss to Southern Connecticut on February 21.[370] Tom Patton scored 15 points to lead Le Moyne. Jamie McArdle added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Jason Coleman had nine points and seven assists for Le Moyne.[371] The Dolphins finished 5–21 overall and 2–20, last place in the NE10.[372] The Dolphins' record matched that of the 1980–81 team for the worst in program history.
Since the Dolphins had no seniors the previous season, there were no players lost to graduation in 2001. Senior Tom Patton, redshirt sophomore Brett Barnard and sophomores Brendan Bayly, Jason Coleman, Al Drechsler, Chris Henry, Jamie McArdle, Brian Robertson and Rob Thorpe all returned. Steve Vega transferred to Clarkson for his senior season.[347] Kyle Chapman did not return for his junior season and transferred to Oakland.[373] Jamar Hubbard was granted a release from his scholarship after the previous season.[374] Rashad Richards, who redshirted as a freshman the previous season, transferred to Onondaga Community College,[375][376] after becoming academically ineligible to play for Le Moyne.[377] Thorpe considered transfering after the previous season, but head coach Steve Evans convinced him and his parents that he would be an integral part of Le Moyne's future.[378] Patton suffered a broken hand that sidelined him at the start of the season. He would appear in only five games before exiting the team in January 2002.
In December 2000, Tom Femminella, a 5'10" shooting guard, passed up at least three Division I offers and signed a letter of intent with Le Moyne. Femminella averaged 24 points and seven assists per game as a junior at Massapequa High School.[379] Darko Sedlar, a 6'6" Croatian forward, who played at Columbia High School, signed with Le Moyne in May 2001.[380] Flagan Prince, who had never played high school basketball but was impressive at Mohawk Valley Community College from 1998 to 2000, was a teammate of Rob Thorpe on the Central New York squad at the 2001 Empire State Games. Prince had not graduated, when his junior college eligibility ran out a year earlier, but he had recently completed his associate's degree. Prince had Division II offers, including one from Le Moyne, but told the media he would not make a decision until after the Games, hoping to get a Division I opportunity.[381] In August, Prince, a 6'6" small forward, signed with the Dolphins as a junior transfer. Prince had averaged 19 points per game during his second season at Mohawk Valley.[382] John Healy, a 6'9" walk-on freshman center, joined the team.[383][384] Head coach Steve Evans said that Thorpe and Jason Coleman would no longer split time at point guard. He named Thorpe the starter and said Coleman would come off the bench for offensive punch, taking advantage of his ability to create off the dribble.[385]
Rob Thorpe's three-pointer with three seconds to play in overtime provided the winning margin in the Dolphins' 92–89 victory at Stonehill on December 4, 2001. Thorpe was 5 for 9 from beyond the arc and finished with 15 points, six assists and two steals. Brett Barnard led Le Moyne with 22 points and five blocked shots. Jason Coleman added 15 points and two steals for the Dolphins, and Flagan Prince had 14 points and seven rebounds.[386] This was Le Moyne's first road win against a conference opponent since January 11, 1999. The Dolphins had lost 25 consecutive conference regular-season road games and 26 straight road games versus conference opponents overall. With their second straight overtime win, Le Moyne improved to 3–2 overall and 2–2 in NE10 play.
After falling behind early by 13 points at Saint Michael's on December 8, the Dolphins surged ahead, fueled by 23 first-half points scored by Jason Coleman. By intermission, Le Moyne had a four-point lead, and they cruised to an 82–65 victory. Coleman finished with 32 points, shooting 12 for 21 from the field and 6 for 10 from three-point range, and added two steals. The Dolphins shot 53% from the floor, while holding the Purple Knights to 29%. It was the first road win for Le Moyne at Saint Michael's since January 8, 1985, breaking their 12-game losing streak there. The win gave the Dolphins their first three-game conference winning streak since January 1999. Jamie McArdle and Darko Sedlar each grabbed six rebounds for Le Moyne, and McArdle added 13 points and two steals. Rob Thorpe scored 11 points, dished five assists and had two steals, and Flagan Prince finished with 14 points. The Dolphins improved to 4–2 overall and 3–2 in NE10 play.[387] Le Moyne was ranked no. 7 in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region poll on December 10.[388]
After a 10-point home loss to Saint Rose in which Le Moyne shot 35% from the floor and 36% from the free-throw line,[389] the Dolphins opened the Le Moyne College Holiday Tournament on December 28, with a 70–55 win over Alfred. Flagan Prince had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Rob Thorpe had 16 points and four steals to lead Le Moyne.[390] The following day, Prince had his third straight double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds to earn the tournament most valuable player award and lead the Dolphins to an 86–78 win over Roberts Wesleyan in the title game. Brett Barnard also had a double-double for Le Moyne with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Rob Thorpe scored eight points and dished 13 assists. Barnard and Thorpe joined Prince on the all-tournament team.[391]
The Dolphins lost their fifth straight game and sixth consecutive NE10 contest, when they fell at home to Bentley, 80–77, on January 12, 2002. Le Moyne sprinted to an early 20–5 lead but trailed by a point at intermission. Flagan Prince had a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for the Dolphins. Rob Thorpe added 16 points, eight assists and three steals. Jason Coleman shot 4 for 7 from three-point range and finished with 15 points for Le Moyne. The Dolphins fell to 6–8 overall and 3–8 in NE10 play.[392][393]
The Dolphins used a 16–0 run over a span of five minutes to erase an 11-point deficit and cruised over the game's final 10 minutes to a 77–62 win at Merrimack on January 15. Le Moyne, who entered the game shooting just 61% from the free-throw line on the season, hit 20 of their 22 charity tosses. Freshman Darko Sedlar scored 19 points, shooting 2 for 3 from three-point range, to lead the Dolphins. Rob Thorpe added 17 points, all in the second half, and three steals. Brendan Bayly had a double-double off the bench with 16 points and 12 rebounds for Le Moyne.[394]
Brett Barnard and Jason Coleman scored 15 points apiece, leading the Dolphins to a 79–62 home win over Saint Michael's on February 2. Sophomore point guard Rob Thorpe added 11 points, six assists and a career-high six rebounds for Le Moyne. The Dolphins improved to 11–10 overall and 7–10 in NE10 play.[395]
The Dolphins closed the regular season with a fifth consecutive loss, falling 93–81 in overtime at Southern Connecticut on February 20. Brett Barnard scored 14 points to lead Le Moyne, who dropped to 11–15 overall and 7–15 in NE10 play, finishing tied for 11th place in the league with Saint Michael's.[396] The Dolphins swept their two regular-season games against Saint Michael's to earn the no. 11 seed in the 12-team conference tournament.[397]
The Dolphins' season ended with an 81–63 loss in the first round of the NE10 tournament at Saint Anselm on February 23. The Hawks used a 10–0 run early in the first half to build an eight-point lead at intermission. Le Moyne got within six points with just over 11 minutes to play, but Saint Anselm seized control of the game the rest of the way. Brett Barnard scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Dolphins. Rob Thorpe added 15 points and five assists, and Jason Coleman had three points and three steals for Le Moyne.[398][399]
Brett Barnard led Division II in field-goal accuracy in 2001–02 at 66.8%.[400]
Tom Patton, who had left the team prior to the end of the previous season, was the only senior lost to graduation in 2002. Senior Flagan Prince, redshirt junior Brett Barnard, juniors Rob Thorpe, Chris Henry, Brendan Bayly, Jason Coleman and Jamie McArdle and sophomore Darko Sedlar all returned. Junior Al Drechsler sat out the entire 2002–03 season as a medical redshirt. Junior Brian Robertson transferred to Elmira.[401] Sophomore Tom Femminella transferred to Catholic.[402] Sid Pond, a 6'8" power forward, who averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds per game as a senior at Watertown High School, joined the team. Also added were freshmen Nick Dooley, a 6'0" point guard from Troy, and Corey Smith, a 6'5" shooting guard. Senior Anibal Abdella, a 5'8" guard, who had previously served as the team's manager,[403] made the team as a walk-on.[400][404][405] Chris Connolly joined the staff as an assistant coach.[406]
The Dolphins opened the season with a 98–86 win over Alderson-Broaddus in the opening game of the Lid-Lifter Classic, hosted by Pitt–Johnstown, on November 22, 2002. Jason Coleman made four three-pointers and notched 20 points to lead Le Moyne, who had five players score in double figures.[407] The following evening, the Dolphins erased a 12-point second-half deficit with a 13–0 run and went on to take the tournament title with a 73–67 victory over host Pitt–Johnstown. Coleman scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists. Flagan Prince finished with 13 points, 19 rebounds and four blocked shots for Le Moyne.[408][409][410]
The Dolphins hosted Assumption, ranked no. 19 in Division II,[73]:55 on December 19. When the Greyhounds last visited Le Moyne in February 2002, Flagan Prince missed a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining, and the Dolphins fell, 69–67. Prince was seeking redemption, saying, "I personally felt responsible for what happened last year and carried that with me." However, just over five minutes into the game, Assumption had surged to an early 20–2 lead. After getting challenged by head coach Steve Evans, the Dolphins proved up to the task. Their defense and rebounding improved, leading to transition baskets, and Assumption's lead shrunk to 39–35 by intermission. Le Moyne's momentum carried them through the second half, and they led, 74–65, with 4:15 to play. The Greyhounds put together a furious 8–0 run to pull within a point in the closing minute. However, the Dolphins hit 6 of 8 free throws in the final 30 seconds and secured an 82–78 victory. Prince got his redemption, leading Le Moyne with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor and 12 rebounds. Rob Thorpe added 19 points and eight assists. Brett Barnard had 13 points and four blocks, and Jamie McArdle chipped in with 12 points and four steals for Le Moyne. The win was the fourth straight for the Dolphins, improving their record to 6–1 overall and 4–1 in NE10 play.[411]
After falling behind Roberts Wesleyan by 14 points late in the first half of their opening-round game in the Le Moyne College Holiday Tournament on December 28, the Dolphins went on a 45–21 extended run over 20 minutes and earned a 77–72 victory. Although the Raiders played in NAIA Division II, there was heightened interest in the game, since they had seven players from Central New York on their roster.[412] Jason Coleman led Le Moyne with 19 points and added six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Flagan Prince had a double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a block. With Rob Thorpe shelved by an ankle injury, freshman Nick Dooley was pressed into starting point guard duty and responded with eight points, 10 assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block, while committing only two turnovers.[413]
The following day, Brockport's seven-point advantage over the Dolphins vanished early in the second-half, but the Division III power responded with a 10–0 run to reclaim the lead and held off a Le Moyne charge for a 77–72 victory in the tournament final. Jason Coleman led the Dolphins with 19 points and three steals. Flagan Prince added 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Rob Thorpe contributed 12 points, eight assists and two steals off the bench. Coleman and Nick Dooley were named to the all-tournament team. Le Moyne fell to 7–3 on the season.[414][415]
The Dolphins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 68–60 home win over Stonehill on January 11, 2003. Le Moyne led by 15 points with 5:37 to play, before the Chieftains went on a 10–0 run fueled by a full-court press to cut their deficit to 54–49 three minutes later. The Dolphins put the game away by hitting 12 of their 13 free-throw attempts in the closing minutes. Flagan Prince, 20 points, 10 rebounds and a block, and Jason Coleman, 12 points and 12 rebounds, each had a double-double for Le Moyne. Rob Thorpe added eight points, eight assists, two rebounds and a steal for the Dolphins, who improved to 8–6 overall and 5–5 in NE10 play.[416]
The Dolphins earned their fourth straight victory with an 87–62 home win over Saint Michael's on January 23. After a slow start, Le Moyne's shooting turned hot and was highlighted by Rob Thorpe's shot from behind the backboard as he was falling out of bounds after getting fouled. Thorpe finished with a game-high 22 points and added seven assists, three rebounds and three steals. After the Purple Knights got within 10 points with just over nine minutes to play, the Dolphins pulled away with a 27–12 run to close the game. Former team manager Anibal Abdella finished the scoring with his first basket of the season, a three-pointer. Flagan Prince recorded 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block, and Brett Barnard had 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Le Moyne. Jamie McArdle came off the bench to stuff the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, three blocks and three steals. Le Moyne shot 53% from the floor and 46% from beyond the arc, while limiting Saint Michael's to a 34% clip on field-goal attempts. The Dolphins improved to 11–6 overall and 8–5 in NE10 play.[403]
Flagan Prince posted his eighth double-double of the season, leading the Dolphins to a 74–66 home victory over Southern Connecticut State on February 8. It was Le Moyne's fourth straight win and eighth in the previous nine games. Prince finished with 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor, 13 rebounds, five assists and a block and held Owls star Aaron Davis in check on the defensive end. Jason Coleman provided the outside game for the Dolphins, scoring 19 points on 5-for-8 shooting from three-point range, and added six rebounds and three assists. Le Moyne improved to 15–7 overall and 12–6 in NE10 play.[417]
After allowing a lead to slip away in the final three minutes at Saint Rose on February 11,[418] the Dolphins were upset at home four days later by Saint Anselm, who entered the game just 7–12 in conference play. Le Moyne showed little defensive intensity, surrendering the most points in a game all season in an 88–84 loss. The Hawks opened the second half with a 12–2 run to build a 12-point lead. The Dolphins pulled within two points with 1:10 to play but got no closer. Flagan Prince had a double-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and a block. Rob Thorpe added 17 points, five assists, a rebound and a block for Le Moyne, who fell out of position for a first-round bye in the NE10 tournament at 12–8 in league play and 15–9 overall.[419]
The Dolphins ended their regular season with their fourth straight conference loss, 91–75, at Southern Connecticut State, a team that failed to reach the NE10 tournament, on February 25. Flagan Prince scored 34 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Le Moyne. Jason Coleman added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jamie McArdle came off the bench to log eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals in 30 minutes of action.[420][421] McArdle was pressed into service after Chris Henry suffered a sprained ankle eight minutes into the game.[422] The loss dropped the Dolphins to 12–10 in NE10 play, tied for sixth place with Bentley and Bryant. The Dolphins earned the no. 6 seed in the conference tournament,[423] since they swept all three games against those teams.
Rob Thorpe scored a career-high 31 points, leading the Dolphins to an 85–74 home win over Merrimack in the first round of the NE10 tournament on March 1. It was the first postseason victory for Le Moyne since 1998. Thorpe, who also had six assists, five rebounds and a steal, scored 12 straight points in a decisive four-minute stretch that ended two minutes into the second half, allowing the Dolphins to pull away. Le Moyne's lead swelled to 18 points, and the Warriors never got closer than eight points down the rest of the way. Flagan Prince added 14 points and six rebounds, and Brett Barnard had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals for Le Moyne.[424]
After a first half that featured nine lead changes and six ties in which the Dolphins shot 73% from the floor but trailed, 46–40, at the intermission at Saint Rose on March 3, Le Moyne was unable to maintain their hot shooting and began to fall behind. The Golden Knights solved the Dolphins' zone defense with ball movement. They had 26 assists on 32 made field goals for the game. Saint Rose also had a 33–28 rebouding edge, which included 16 caroms collected from the offensive boards. The Dolphins made a run and were within three points with possession and 10 minutes to play but turned the ball over. After falling behind again by 12 points, Le Moyne got within four with 3:40 to play, but the Golden Knights hit a dagger triple and went on to secure a 94–88 win in the NE10 quarterfinals, their ninth straight victory over the Dolphins, a streak that started in 1991. Flagan Prince scored 26 points to lead Le Moyne and added six rebounds, four assists and a steal in his final collegiate game. Chris Henry had 19 points and four rebounds before fouling out. Rob Thorpe finished with 11 points, six assists, two steals and a block but committed eight turnovers. The Dolphins ended the season 17–12 overall.[425]
Senior Flagan Prince was selected to the 2003 All-Northeast-10 Conference first team, and junior Rob Thorpe made the third team.[311] Prince was also named second team Division II All-Region[426] and honorable mention Division II All-American.[427]
Members of Le Moyne's recruiting class of 2000 who played as freshmen on the NCAA's youngest team during the 2000–01 season became seniors in 2003, and were poised to play key roles on a veteran squad. The Dolphins lost honorable mention All-American Flagan Prince, their leading scorer and rebounder, and walk-on Anibal Abdella to graduation. Returning for the 2003–04 season were redshirt senior Brett Barnard, seniors Rob Thorpe, Jason Coleman, Chris Henry, Brendan Bayly and Jamie McArdle, redshirt junior Al Drechsler, junior Darko Sedlar and sophomores Sid Pond and Corey Smith. Drechsler was a member of the 2000 recruiting class, who had missed the previous season with an injury. Phil Schoff, a 6'6" shooting guard from Fort Plain, New York, who was a third-team Class C All-New York State selection, averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior at Little Falls High School, was new to the team. Matt Cooper represented a significant local recruiting victory for Le Moyne. He was a 6'7" power forward/center, who was sixth-team Class A All-New York State and averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks per game at G. Ray Bodley High School. Head coach Steve Evans expected Cooper to have an immediate impact on the team. Anthony Drayton, a 5'10" guard from Boston, who averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game as a senior at Avon Old Farms, signed a letter of intent[428] but ended up attending Lesley instead.[429] Junior John Zych and freshman Derrick Hannah made the team as walk-ons. Thorpe was named team captain.[430] Todd Montana, formerly an assistant at Union (NY), was added to the staff as an assistant coach.[406][431] The Dolphins were picked to finish 10th in the 15-team NE10 in the preseason coaches poll.[427]
After starting the season 0–4, including 0–3 in NE10 play, the Dolphins earned a 61–53 home win over American International on December 3, 2003. After allowing a 12-point second-half lead to flip to a two-point deficit, Le Moyne closed the game on a 19–9 run over the final nine minutes. Jame McArdle scored a team-high 18 points, grabbed six rebounds, had three steals and dished four assists, including a pass to Brendan Bayly for a jump shot that gave the Dolphins the lead for good. Chris Henry added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, and Rob Thorpe had 12 points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals for Le Moyne. The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Dolphins, 52–32, but Le Moyne shot 44% from the floor, while holding American International to 33%. The Dolphins forced 19 turnovers and committed only eight.[432]
The Dolphins won their second straight game, a 72–68 upset at Assumption, ranked no. 21 in Division II,[73]:119 on December 6. Rob Thorpe led Le Moyne with 28 points, four assists, two rebounds and three steals. Jamie McArdle did not score but had six boards, two steals and an assist.[433][434]
The Dolphins played Nebraska Wesleyan in the opener of the South Padre Island Shootout, a four-team showcase event that included Le Moyne and three Division III clubs, in Los Fresnos, Texas on December 28.[435] After falling behind by 14 points at the break, the Prairie Wolves scored the first six points of the second half to cut their deficit to eight points. Le Moyne responded with a 23–9 run and cruised to an 81–65 victory. Rob Thorpe led the Dolphins with 18 points and seven assists. Sid Pond had a double-double for Le Moyne with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Matt Cooper added 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block. The Dolphins shot 58% from the floor, while holding Nebraska Wesleyan to a 37% clip. The game was the first in program history Le Moyne played outside the Eastern Time Zone.[436][437]
The following evening, Jason Coleman scored 20 points, grabbed two rebounds and had three steals to lead the Dolphins to a 78–67 victory over Sewanee. Le Moyne was the only team in the South Padre Island Shootout to win both games they played. Rob Thorpe finished with seven points, four rebounds, six assists and a steal and was named the event's most valuable player. Brendan Bayly added 10 points, six boards, three blocks and a steal for the Dolphins, who improved to 5–5 on the season.[438]
The Dolphins hosted Massachusetts Lowell, ranked no. 14 in Division II,[73]:57 on January 6, 2004. By halftime, Le Moyne had built a 10-point lead that swelled to 15 points early in the second half. After Corey Smith hit a jump shot with 13:10 to play, the Dolphins had a 13-point lead. From that point, the River Hawks embarked on a 22–9 run, culminating with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Elad Inbar that tied the score at 55. Le Moyne shot 0 for 13 from the floor during the run. Jamie McArdle's pass found Brendan Bayly, who made a layup and converted a three-point play, breaking a tie with 29.2 seconds left in overtime. The River Hawks missed four three-pointers on their final possession, and the Dolphins held on for a 61–58 victory. Rob Thorpe led the Dolphins with 16 points and five assists and added six rebounds, a block and an assist. Chris Henry scored four points, grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals and a block for Le Moyne, who evened their record at 6–6 overall and 4–4 in NE10 play.[439]
Senior Jason Coleman scored 14 points and became the 31st player in Le Moyne's program history to reach 1,000 career points in the Dolphins' 74–65 home victory over Saint Anselm on January 17. Jamie McArdle had a game-high 20 points and added four rebounds and an assist for Le Moyne. Brendan Bayly was held scoreless but had seven rebounds and a block. Rob Thorpe finished with nine points, six rebounds, eight assists and a steal. The win was the Dolphins' ninth in their last 12 games and improved their record to 9–7 overall and 7–5 in NE10 play.[440][441]
The Dolphins won their sixth straight game and 13th of their last 16 contests with an 80–59 home victory over Bryant, ranked no. 2 in the Northeast Region poll, on January 31. The game left both teams at 11–5 in NE10 play, tied for first place in the league. Senior Rob Thorpe had a double-double with 17 points, 12 assists, two rebounds and two steals and became the team's second player this season to reach 1,000 career points. Jamie McArdle also had a double-double for Le Moyne with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals.[442]
After a pair of road losses dropped Le Moyne from first place in the NE10 standings, the Dolphins hosted Saint Rose in a battle for fourth place on February 10. A top-four finish in the league meant a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Golden Knights entered the game with a 10-game winning streak over the Dolphins with Le Moyne's last win coming in November 1991. Two Le Moyne starters, Jamie McArdle with an ankle injury and Matt Cooper with back trouble, sat out the game. The Dolphins jumped out to an early 21–9 lead with junior Darko Sedlar, making his first collegiate start, scoring 10 points during the early burst. Sedlar did not score the rest of the game, but head coach Steve Evans said the energy infused by the popular player carried the team throughout the contest. All five Le Moyne starters scored in double figures, led by Jason Coleman with 19 points. Rob Thorpe had 17 points, eight assists and three steals. Brendan Bayly finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and Chris Henry added 17 points and six rebounds. The Dolphins improved to 14–9 overall and 12–7 in NE10 play.[443]
The Dolphins won their regular-season finale, 70–61, at home over Southern Connecticut on February 24. Le Moyne's six seniors, who were part of the NCAA's youngest team as freshmen, were honored in a ceremony prior to the game. The Dolphins had a 51–48 lead and ended the game with a 19–13 run in the closing minutes. Rob Thorpe led the Dolphins with 18 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals. With less than seven minutes to play, Jason Coleman and Mike Vukmanovich of Southern Connecticut were battling on the floor for a loose ball, when Vukmanovich punched Coleman. Chris Henry came to the aid of his teammate and punched Vukmanovich. Henry and Vukmanovich were both ejected. Since NCAA rules mandate a minimum one-game suspension for throwing a punch, the Dolphins would have to play their NE10 tournament opener without Henry. Jamie McArdle, Le Moyne's leading rebounder, played six minutes in his return from a four-game absence with an ankle injury. The Dolphins finished the regular season 17–10 overall and 14–8 in NE10 play,[430] tied for fourth place with Bryant. Since Le Moyne and Bryant split their two regular-season games, the Dolphins were awarded the no. 4 seed, because they won their only game against regular-season champion Massachusetts Lowell, who defeated Bryant twice.
The Dolphins hosted Bryant, who had defeated American International in the first round,[444] in an NE10 quarterfinal game on March 1. The Bulldogs employed a diamond-an-one defense that successfully shut down Rob Thorpe and earned a 72–65 victory. Bryant's head coach said the only other time during his 35-year head coaching career he used such a defense was in a high school game to stop Lamar Odom. Thorpe was limited to five points on 1 for 5 shooting from the floor and had three assists and three steals but committed three turnovers. Jason Coleman led the Dolphins with 22 points and added three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Jamie McArdle added 16 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Corey Smith had nine points, five boards, four assists and a block for Le Moyne.[445]
Rob Thorpe was named 2004 first-team All-Northeast-10 Conference. He finished his career as only the fourth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 500 assists.[378] Thorpe led the NE10 in assists per game with 6.32 in the 2003–04 season.[311] Matt Cooper was named to the 2004 NE10 All-Rookie team.[446]
The Dolphins lost six seniors, including all five starters, to graduation in 2004. Redshirt senior Al Drechsler rejoined the team after sitting out the previous season with an injury. Seniors Darko Sedlar and walk-on John Zych, juniors Sid Pond and Corey Smith and sophomores Matt Cooper and Phil Schoff all returned. New freshmen added to the team included Trent Morgan, a 5'10" point guard, Jason Holmes, a 6'3" point guard, Matt Vassil, a 6'4" guard, and Dan Cromwell, a 7'0" center. Without a returning point guard, Morgan and Holmes were expected to get significant playing time.[447] Pat Campolieta, who played at Colgate from 1998 to 2002, joined the staff as an assistant coach.[448]
For the first time in program history, the Dolphins opened a season with six straight losses. The streak was snapped by Le Moyne's 74–55 road win at Division III Union (NY) on December 18, 2004. The Dolphins broke open a close game in the second half with a 20–8 run. Matt Cooper scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Le Moyne. Freshman Trent Morgan added 10 points and seven assists for the Dolphins.[449]
After starting the season 3–12 overall and 1–9 in NE10 play, the Dolphins earned their fourth straight victory, a 64–54 home triumph over Southern New Hampshire, ranked no. 25 in Division II,[73]:59 on January 25, 2005. Trailing by five points with less than seven minutes to play, Le Moyne took control of the game with a 13–0 run, capped by a Jason Holmes fast-break dunk. Holmes and Trent Morgan each scored 15 points to lead the Dolphins, and Holmes added eight rebounds. Matt Cooper finished with 14 points and four assists for Le Moyne. Four days later, Sid Pond had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Dolphins to an 81–71 home win over UMass Lowell. Morgan finished with 21 points, and Holmes had 18 points and six assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 8–12 overall and 6–9 in NE10 play with their fifth straight victory.[450]
Matt Cooper scored 31 points, including a pair of free throws with 2.3 seconds to play to lead the Dolphins to a 93–91 win at Assumption on February 12, snapping Le Moyne's three-game losing streak. Sid Pond added nine points and nine rebounds, and Trent Morgan finished with 16 points and seven assists for the Dolphins.[451]
The Dolphins clinched a berth in the 2005 NE10 tournament with a 78–62 home win over American International on February 16. Jason Holmes scored 21 points to lead Le Moyne. Matt Cooper added 20 points, and he and Sid Pond each grabbed nine rebounds. Trent Morgan finished with 14 points and five assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 10–15 overall and 8–12 in NE10 play.[452]
The Dolphins won their February 21 regular-season finale on senior night to earn the no. 9 seed in the NE10 tournament. Le Moyne's three seniors, Al Drechsler, Darko Sedlar and John Zych, who were primarily role players on the team, started and played the first seven minutes against Southern Connecticut. Sid Pond had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Matt Cooper led the Dolphins with 20 points, and Jason Holmes finished with four points and six assists.[453]
Le Moyne's season ended with a 76–73 loss at no. 8 seed Pace in the first round of the NE10 tournament on February 26. The Dolphins took a one-point lead on a pair of free throws by Jason Holmes with 1:38 to play. The Setters missed two layups on their next possession but got both offensive rebounds and drained two free throws to reclaim the lead. After two Le Moyne turnovers and Pace missing the front end of a one-and-one, Trent Morgan missed a three-pointer, and Matt Cooper grabbed the rebound but could not finish the layup with 10 seconds left. The Setters hit two more free throws, and Le Moyne was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer. Corey Smith led the Dolphins with 17 points and nine rebounds. Cooper also had nine rebounds and added seven points and three blocks. Morgan finished with 16 points and eight assists for Le Moyne, who finished the season 11–17.[454][455]
Trent Morgan was named 2005 NE10 co-rookie of the year.[456]
The Dolphins lost three seniors to graduation in 2005. Seniors Sid Pond and Corey Smith, juniors Matt Cooper and Phil Schoff and sophomores Jason Holmes, Dan Cromwell and Matt Vassil returned. Sophomore Trent Morgan transferred to Kent State.[457] Damani Corbin, a 6'1" freshman point guard from Brooklyn who played at Frederick Douglass Academy was new to the team. Senior Dan Wright, a 5'11" guard who played at Bishop Ludden High School in Syracuse, made the team as a walk-on.[458] Also new to the team were freshmen Stefan Horbanczuk, a 6'3" guard from Vestal High School, Matt Lostumbo, a 5'10" guard from Fairport High School and Luke Postorino, a 5'10" guard from Bridgton Academy.[459]
Although it was an exhibition game, the Dolphins nevertheless attracted national attention when they defeated Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on November 3, 2009. Syracuse was ranked no. 25 in the preseason AP poll at the time. However, Christopher Johnson's three-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining gave Division II Le Moyne an 82–79 road victory over a Division I national power.[460] Syracuse had finished the previous season 28–10, ranked no. 13 in Division I, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Once the season started, the Orange recovered. They were 2009–10 Big East Conference regular-season champions and reached the Sweet 16 of the 2010 NCAA tournament.
Despite an exit from the 2014 NE10 tournament in the semifinals,[311] Le Moyne received an at-large NCAA tournament bid. As the no. 6 seed in the East Region, the Dolphins were defeated by Saint Anselm. Le Moyne finished the 2013–14 season 17–12.[461]
Coach Patrick Beilein and three straight NCAA tournaments
Patrick Beilein, son of John Beilein, who coached the Dolphins from 1983 to 1992, took the head coaching reins in 2015. After a losing record in his first season, Beilein produced an era of success for Le Moyne basketball with three straight NCAA tournament appearances. Beilein made his debut as the Dolphins' head coach in an exhibition game against Michigan, coached by his father, at the Crisler Center. More than 70 members of the Beilein clan traveled from around the country to attend the game, which Michigan won, 74–52.[462]
In 2016–17, the Dolphins won the NE10 Southwest Division title and had the best regular-season record in the entire conference. Despite being upset in the NE10 tournament semifinals,[311] Le Moyne's 22–6 record was good enough to secure an at-large berth as the no. 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA tournament, hosting the first three rounds. However, the Dolphins suffered a first-round loss to Merrimack, 72–68, in overtime in front of the home crowd.[463] For his efforts, Beilein was named 2017 NE10 coach of the year.[464]
Le Moyne's 2017–18 season was perhaps the best in program history by all measures. They achieved a new high in wins with 27,[461] won the NE10 Southwest Division title, had the best conference record of any NE10 team, won the conference tournament[311] and secured a no. 1 seed and hosting rights at the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight. The Dolphins were an astounding 18–2 in conference play and entered the NE10 tournament with a 21–6 record and blitzed their way to the title. They defeated Stonehill by 39 points in the quarterfinals and topped Merrimack, 83–55, in the semifinals. The title game was a 69–63 victory over Northeast Division champion Saint Anselm. Le Moyne's Isaiah Eisendorf was named tournament MVP. Coach Beilein collected his second straight NE10 coach of the year award.[311]
Playing at home in the NCAA tournament, Le Moyne scored victories over Jefferson, Saint Rose and Bloomfield. The Elite Eight was held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the Dolphins fell to West Texas A&M, 87–73. Entering the NCAA tournament, Le Moyne was ranked no. 24 nationally in the season's final Division II coaches poll.[73]:92[465]
Le Moyne won another NE10 Southwest Division title in 2018–19. The Dolphins were upset at home in the conference tournament semifinals by Merrimack, 84–77, in overtime.[311] Nevertheless, Le Moyne's 18–10 record[461] earned them the no. 3 seed in the East Region at the NCAA tournament. The Dolphins were matched up in the first round with St. Thomas Aquinas, coached by former Le Moyne assistant coach, Tobin Anderson.[466] After the Dolphins built a 19-point lead, the Spartans staged a furious comeback to earn a 61–59 victory and eliminate Le Moyne from the tournament.[467] After the season, Beirlein left Le Moyne to become the head coach at Division I Niagara.[468]
Nate Champion era
Nate Champion, a Le Moyne alumnus, was hired as the new head coach in 2019.[469][470] The Dolphins won their fourth straight NE10 Southwest Division title and had the best NE10 regular-season conference record in Champion's first season. Le Moyne bowed out at home in the NE10 tournament quarterfinals to New Haven, 75–73. Champion was named NE10 coach of the year, the third straight season the award had been won by a Le Moyne coach.[311] The 2020 NCAA tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2022, Le Moyne College president Linda LeMura revealed that the school had hired a consultant to assess the feasibility of reclassifying to Division I and had begun internal discussions regarding the potential impact.[471] In September 2022, a social media post of a sports journalist indicated that the decision to move to Division I had been made, but no official announcement would come from Le Moyne, until it had officially been invited to join a conference.[472]
Northeast Conference logo in Le Moyne colors
On May 10, 2023, Le Moyne announced that the school would begin a transition to Division I, joining the Northeast Conference (NEC).[473] The Dolphins officially became a Division I program and a member of the NEC on July 1.[474]
As a team transitioning from Division II, Le Moyne initially was ineligible for the NCAA Division I tournament until 2028, since there was a required four-year transition period. However, January 2025 NCAA legislation allows schools transitioning from Division II to Division I to have their four-year transition period reduced to three years, if they meet revised criteria and apply to the NCAA to do so.[9] If this process is completed, Le Moyne would become eligible for the 2027 NCAA Division I tournament.
Effective for the 2023–24 academic year, NEC teams transitioning from Division II became eligible to participate in the NEC tournament during the entirety of their transition periods.[475] Prior to the conference's rule change, NEC teams were eligible for the conference tournament only during their third and fourth transition years. As a result, Le Moyne was eligible for the 2024 NEC tournament.
Darrick Jones Jr. hit a three-pointer from the top of the key early in the Dolphins' season opener at Georgetown for Le Moyne's first points scored as a Division I program on November 7, 2023. Ball State transfer Kaiyem Cleary led the Dolphins with 11 points, all in the second half, and seven rebounds. Georgetown used a 9–2 run to take a 12–5 lead early in the game. The Hoyas extended the lead with an 8–0 run that made the score 20–7. After a brief flurry led by Jones, Trent Mosquera and Mike DePersia got the Dolphins within single digits at 28–19, the Hoyas closed the first half with a 19–4 run that gave them a 47–23 halftime lead on their way to a 94–57 victory. Jones and Luke Sutherland each contributed nine points for Le Moyne in the losing cause.[476][477][478]
Le Moyne used first-half runs of 16–2 and 20–2 to build a 47–15 lead and never looked back on their way to a 105–46 victory, their first as a Division I program, over Division IIISUNY Canton in their 2023–24 home opener on November 13, 2023. Five Dolphins had double-figure scoring games led by Kaiyem Cleary with 21 points. Cleary shot 8 for 10 from the field, while adding seven rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes. The Dolphins shot 32 for 37 on two-point field goals for the game, including 15 for 16 in the first half.[479][480]
Le Moyne recorded its first victory over a Division I opponent as a Division I program, an 80–70 win at Cal State Northridge on November 21, 2023, in their opening game of the Golden State Hoops Jam, a multi-team event sponsored by Pacific. Luke Sutherland led the Dolphins with 24 points and five rebounds. Le Moyne started five graduate students for the first time in the program's history, and they responded by sprinting to an 11–4 lead to start the game. After Le Moyne fell behind, 15–12, Mike DePersia (eight points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals for the game) sparked a 19–2 run with a pull-up jump shot. The Matadors could not get closer than three points behind the rest of the way. The Dolphins closed out the game with strong free-throw shooting, finishing the game 31 for 34 from the charity stripe.[481][482][483]
Kaiyem Cleary scored 43 points on January 27, 2024, to break Le Moyne's single-game individual scoring record, first set on January 7, 1955,[484][485] and the Dolphins cruised to an 87–74 victory over LIU. Cleary's 43 points were the most scored by a player in regulation and the third most scored by a player in a single game up to that point in the Division I season. Cleary was 14 for 25 from the floor, including 6 for 10 from beyond the arc, and shot 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. He also led Le Moyne in rebounds with seven and had a pair of blocked shots. With Le Moyne trailing, 46–45, early in the second half, Cleary scored 13 points over six and a half minutes to spark a decisive 20–4 run that put the Dolphins ahead, 65–50.[486][487][488]
Kaiyem Cleary scored with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie up Le Moyne's home game with Central Connecticut on February 15. After the Blue Devils took a one-point lead in overtime, the Dolphins scored the final six points of the extra session, including a baseline jump shot by Cleary with 1:24 to play that gave Le Moyne the lead for good. Cleary finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. With the win, Le Moyne clinched a berth in the NEC tournament.[489][490][491]
Entering the final day of the regular season, Le Moyne had the opportunity to earn the no. 4 seed in the NEC tournament and home-court advantage in the NEC quarterfinals with a win. If the Dolphins were to lose, the no. 4 seed would go to the winner of the regular-season finale between Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner scheduled for the same day.[492]
Le Moyne claimed the no. 4 seed in the NEC tournament and home-court advantage in the NEC quarterfinals with a 74–58 win at Saint Francis on March 2. Luke Sutherland led the Dolphins with 22 points, shooting 8 for 10 from the field and 3 for 4 from beyond the arc, seven rebounds, a career-high eight assists, two blocked shots and one steal. After the Red Flash took a 3–0 lead, Le Moyne went on a 10–0 run, keyed by five points from Nate McClure, and led the rest of the way.[493][494]
Kaiyem Cleary was named first-team All-NEC. Luke Sutherland was named to the all-conference second team.[495]
Powered by Luke Sutherland's 22 points, Le Moyne cruised to an 82–61 wire-to-wire victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the program's Division I postseason debut on March 6. The Dolphins opened the game with three three-pointers to take a 9–0 lead just 1:45 into the contest.[496][497][498]
After Le Moyne jumped out to an early 13–4 lead in the NEC semifinals on March 9, Merrimack's defense got the Warriors back into the game, and a 19–3 run in the later part of the first half helped them build a 28–20 lead at intermission. The Dolphins cut the deficit to three with 14:47 to play on a put-back by Kaiyem Cleary. The teams traded three-pointers over the next three minutes, until Samba Diallo's layups on consecutive possessions extended Merrimack's lead to seven points. The Dolphins responded with a 6–2 run to get within three points at 40–37 with 8:14 to play. An 8–2 Warriors run gave them a nine-point lead with 6:45 on the clock, but Le Moyne responded with a pair of three-pointers by Luke Sutherland to pull within three again with 5:42 to play. After each team had two empty possessions over the next two minutes, Bryan Etumnu was fouled on a layup and completed the three-point play, sparking a 9–2 Merrimack run that put the game away. The Warriors' 61–51 victory ended the Dolphins' inaugural Division I season. Sutherland had 23 points and eight rebounds for Le Moyne,[499][500][501] and he was named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.[502]
In 76 completed seasons through 2024–25, the Dolphins have finished with a winning record 50 times, a losing record 22 times and a .500 record four times.
There have been nine head coaches in the history of Le Moyne men's basketball. The program has played 1,949 games across 76 seasons from the program's inaugural 1948–49 campaign through the end of the 2024–25 season.[503]
Tommy Niland had the longest tenure at Le Moyne, coaching for 25 seasons, and is the all-time leader in games coached (534) and wins (324) at the school.
Patrick Beilein has the highest winning percentage among Le Moyne head coaches with a 77–41 (.653) record over four seasons from 2015 to 2019.
The current head coach is Nate Champion, who played for the Dolphins from 2010 to 2014.
The Dolphins participated in the Utica Optimist Club Invitational Tournament three times. They had a combined record of 6–0, winning the tournament each time they participated.
Between 1958 and 1987, the NCAA chose eight or nine schools as hosts for the College Division/Division II regionals. These teams played their regional semifinal games and (if they won) their regional final (Sweet 16) games at home during years the tournament included 32 teams. In some years, there were 36 teams with seven regions having four teams and one region having eight teams. In eight-team regions, the host school might have played as many as three tournament games at home, if it was designated as being in the section given home-court advantage for the regional final. A host school effectively had the privileges of what would later be identified as a no. 1 seed. However, factors such as availability and quality of facilities, expected fan support and travel arrangements entered into the choice of a host school. By the 1980s, the four teams in each region, including the top seed, each submitted competing bids to the NCAA for the right to host, which meant the fourth-seeded team in the region could be selected to play at home. In addition, teams generally played in regions that reflected the locations of the schools. Therefore, if the two best teams in the College Division or Division II were near each other, it is likely only one of them would be selected to host. Thus, the hosts were not necessarily the top eight teams. Nevertheless, Le Moyne was one of the eight host schools for the 1965 and 1969 NCAA tournaments.
The 1966 NCAA tournament included 36 schools, four more than the previous season. Seven of the eight regions had four teams as had previously been the norm. The Northeast Region had eight teams divided into two sections. Le Moyne was selected to host the four games in Section B of the Northeast Region. However, as of the time Le Moyne was chosen as a host, the Dolphins had not yet been extended a bid to play in the tournament. Le Moyne agreed to host regardless of whether it was participating.[103] The Section A winner had the right to host the regional final,[504][505] meaning Le Moyne, which ultimately did receive a tournament bid, would have played the regional final on the road had they advanced that far. This effectively treated Le Moyne as the no. 2 seed in the region. However, none of the no. 2 seeds in the other seven regions played at home. Since Le Moyne was placed in an eight-team region, it would have needed to win one more game than all 28 teams in four-team regions to reach the national quarterfinals, which makes the extra game similar to a play-in game such as the First Four in the present-day Division I tournament.
Games against higher-division opponents
Starting with Le Moyne's inaugural 1948–49 season through the end of the 1955–56 campaign, the final season before the NCAA split into the University Division and the College Division, the Dolphins were classified by the Associated Press (AP) as a small-college (non-major) program. During that time, Le Moyne played 59 games against major programs, as classified by the AP. The results of such games are shown in the table below.
(#) Ranking per AP major-program poll †National Catholic Invitational Tournament quarterfinal played on Siena's home court ‡ National Catholic Invitational Tournament semifinal played in Albany, New York †† National Catholic Invitational Tournament quarterfinal played in Troy, New York ‡‡ Game played in Rochester, New York ††† Game played in Quantico, Virginia ‡‡‡ Game played in Auburn, New York
On several occasions, the Dolphins, playing as a College Division or Division II team, recorded victories over University Division or Division I teams. Le Moyne played 58 such games, going 29–29, and won at least one in each of their first 13 seasons as a College Division program, beginning with the NCAA's split into divisions for the 1956–57 season through the end of the 1968–69 season. Details of games played against Division I/University Division opponents are shown in the table below.
(#) Ranking per AP Division I poll † Game played in Latrobe, Pennsylvania ‡ Game played in Jersey City, New Jersey †† Game played on neutral floor in Syracuse, New York ‡‡ Le Moyne home game played at Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse, New York
Before the Dolphins had ever played a varsity basketball game, Siena was identified as Le Moyne's chief rival. "BEAT SIENA!" was the front-page headline of the school newspaper on November 24, 1948, 13 days before the Dolphins' inaugural varsity game, scheduled to be played at home against Siena.[13]:1 A pep rally was held the night before the game and attended by the team, the head coach, the athletic director and, of course, the cheerleaders. Those organizing the rally had someone dressed as an Indian, Siena's team nickname at the time, appear to be tossed into the bonfire and burned.[14] The rivalry was acknowledged by Siena shortly after the teams began playing,[657] perhaps, in part, because the teams met in the 1951 National Catholic Invitational Tournament (NCIT).
Siena won the first-ever matchup, 41–39, on December 7, 1948,[12] and went on to take the first five games between the teams, the fourth and fifth of which went to overtime, before Le Moyne broke through with a win at home followed by another victory in the NCIT, which was played on Siena's home court.
On March 5, 1955, in Syracuse, a fistfight between Le Moyne's Dan Cavellier and Siena's Tim Hill with two minutes to play in the game between the two teams resulted in the ejection of both players.[551][658]
In preparation for the Dolphins' December 1, 1956 season opener at Siena, a 20-car motorcade from Syracuse to Albany was organized to transport Le Moyne supporters to the game, and plans were made to have a Le Moyne cheerleader dressed as a deceased Siena Indian and carried into the arena in a funeral procession with the pep band playing a dirge.[659]
Despite the heated rivalry between the two schools, when Siena head coach Dan Cunha resigned after the 1959–60 season,[660] Le Moyne head coach Tommy Niland remarked that he regarded Cunha as a very good friend who was a fine coach and would be hard to replace.[661] Cunha withdrew his resignation in July 1960,[662] and was 1961 MECAA coach of the year.[663]
After Le Moyne's Gary DeYulia felt he was unnecessarily shoved out of bounds in the NCAA tournament-bound Dolphins' regular-season finale in DeWitt against Siena on February 28, 1965, a brief melee broke out between the rival teams, and a Siena player was promptly slammed to the floor by a Dolphin. It appeared it might spread into the stands where the Siena fans were sitting, but cooler heads quickly prevailed.[664] The behavior of the Le Moyne players and fans in connection with the melee was criticized in Siena's school newspaper.[665]
After 21 seasons as Siena's head basketball coach, Dan Cunha resigned for a second time in July 1965.[666] Four months later, Cunha was hired as Le Moyne's new dean of men, a position with no athletic duties.[667]
In 1976, Siena reclassified to Division I, while Le Moyne remained a Division II program. Despite Siena's move, there were plans for Siena to play at Le Moyne on January 15, 1977, and for the Dolphins to continue their series with their archrivals, reduced to one game per season. However, Siena notified Le Moyne in September 1976, that it would be unable to keep its commitment for that date. Le Moyne had no open dates on which a game with Siena could be scheduled.[668] As a result, the two teams did not meet during the 1976–77 season, ending their annual series which started in the 1948–49 season, with the first varsity game Le Moyne ever played. The teams did not meet again for 11 years.
Le Moyne and Siena played one game annually between the 1987–88 and 1992–93 seasons, and Siena won all six of those contests. Le Moyne's 2023 reclassification to Division I creates the possibility that this rivalry may be rekindled. It has been 32 years since the teams last met in an official game. The Dolphins defeated Siena, 73–71, in an exhibition game in November 2017, at Loudonville.[669][670]
In 1964, Le Moyne began hosting an annual four-team Christmas invitational tournament. It was held each December through 1975, except for 1972. Le Moyne hosted tournaments in January 1984 and January and December 1985, branded as the Matt's Premium Classic for sponsorship reasons. Tournaments hosted by Le Moyne in December 1986 through 1990, were branded as the Coca-Cola Classic. The 1991 through 1993 tournaments were called the Coca-Cola/Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic. After a five-year hiatus, a new multi-team showcase event branded the Holiday Inn Invitational was hosted by Le Moyne in 1999. The tournament format returned in 2000, and the event was called the Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic. The 2001, 2002 and 2005 tournaments were called the Le Moyne College Holiday Tournament. Results of these events are shown below.
Corey Smith of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
Corey Smith, Le Moyne
Jason Holmes, Le Moyne
Sid Pond, Le Moyne
Cheick Fadika, Baruch
Louie Karis, Baruch
EJ Harrison, Clarkson
Honorees
Le Moyne has 43 men's basketball players, coaches and contributors honored in the Le Moyne Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, two of Le Moyne's men's basketball teams have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Honored players
Name
Years
Awards and achievements
Joe Boehm
1947–51
Captain of inaugural 1947–48 freshman team;[710] served as the first arena announcer in the Le Moyne Events Center from 1962 through at least 1976[711]
John Caveny
1959–62
Captain of the 1961–62 team, second-team 1961 MECAA All Star[63][712]
Tom Cooney
1961–64
1964 Le Moyne College Athlete of the Year; co-captain and starting point guard on 1964 NCAA tournament team at 5'8"; head coach from 1973 to 1979[713]
Gary DeYulia
1963–66
All-MECAA, All-ECAC, First Team Catholic College All-American, Honorable Mention College All-American, played in three NCAA tournaments[714]
All-ECAC;[716] starting point guard on 1968 and 1969 NCAA tournament teams; selected All-ECAC College Division East in 1968,[717] All-ECAC College Division in 1969 and 1970,[718] and honorable mention College Division All-American in 1969;[719] captain of 1969–70 team[129]
Le Moyne's career scoring and rebounding leader with 1,966 points and 1,171 rebounds; the only Le Moyne player named first team all-conference in three consecutive seasons[720]
Tom Fletcher
1975–79
Excellent ball handler, who averaged almost 10 points and four rebounds per game; also pitched for Le Moyne's baseball team[721]
Paul Galvin
1980–84
Le Moyne's all-time leader in career assists with 602[722]
Jene Grey
1975–79
1,729 points and 969 rebounds for his career,[723] both of which ranked him second in program history at the time his collegiate career ended;[182] co-captain during both his junior and senior seasons
Don Guido
1968–69
Elected primarily for his accomplishments in baseball;[724] played varsity basketball as a sophomore on the 1969 NCAA tournament team
Phil Harlow
1969–73
Regarded by many as the best player in program history;[725] team captain for three years;[614][726][727] ended his career as the program's all-time leading career scorer;[146] scored 41 points on February 18, 1971, to match the program's single-game record;[728] second-team New York State College Division All-Star in 1971[729] and 1972[730] 1972 ECAC Division II All-Star;[731] named first-team District II All-Star by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.[732] honorable mention for the College Division All-New York State team[733]
James Henderson
1983–87
1,554 points, 722 rebounds and 118 blocked shots for his career[734]
1988 Rev. John J. O'Brien Award for Le Moyne College Male Athlete of the Year, All-MECC, All-Northeast Region, Co-Captain, had 1,470 points, 627 rebounds, 320 assists and 178 steals for his career, head coach from 1992 to 1997[735]
1985 Rev. J.J. O'Brien Male Senior Athlete Achievement Award, 1,260 points and 895 rebounds for his career[739]
John Lauer
1973–77
Quiet leader who was also a prolific scorer and rebounder;[740] known to his teammates as "Cakes", was team captain as a senior in 1976–77;[741] finished his career as the program's fourth all-time career scorer[176]
1956–57 team captain; 1957 Le Moyne College Athlete of the Year[744]
Rick May
1970–74
Left the program as its all-time leading rebounder with 1,028, scored 1,224 points for his career, averaged a double-double over his career[745]
Mike Montesano
1991–95
1995 Division II All-American, scored 1,759 points for his career, set program single-season point scoring record with 646 in 1994–95[746]
Tom Mullen
1963–66
Played in two NCAA tournaments, 1965 and 1966 All-MECAA, led Le Moyne in rebounding 1964–65 and 1965–66, MECAA leading scorer in 1965–66, 1966 ECAC All-Star[747]
2003 All-NE10 First Team, 2003 NABC All-America Honorable Mention, led team in scoring and rebounding in both of his seasons[749]
Len Rauch
1987–91
1991 MECC Player of the Year, four-time All-MECC Team, career totals of 1,876 points, 1,151 rebounds and 509 assists[750]
Dick Reddington
1956–57
Le Moyne College Athletic Achievement Award; elected primarily for his accomplishments as goalkeeper on the soccer team from 1956–59;[751] appeared in games for the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, when the team was shorthanded due to injuries
Three years as varsity team captain,[13] including the 1950–51 team that had a historic turnaround from an 0–5 start to capture third place in the National Catholic Invitational Tournament, Le Moyne's first significant postseason appearance[21]
Bill Stanley
1959–62
1961 MECAA All-Star,[63] averaged over 10 rebounds per game at 6'2"[752]
Adam Stockwell
1992–96
Captain and leading scorer for 1995–96 team that went to NCAA tournament, Division II All-America Honorable Mention, averaged 21.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for his senior season[753]
John Tomsich
1995–99
1999 Rev. J.J. O’Brien Senior Athlete Award, 1999 NABC All-America Second Team, led team in scoring each of his last three seasons, career totals of 1,760 points and 1,015 rebounds, left program as leader in career blocked shots with 264, averaged 21.1 points and 11.7 rebounds as a senior, played in two NCAA tournaments[754]
1988 NCAA tournament appearance, 1988 MECC Coach of the Year, 1984 and 1988 MECC regular-season titles, 1988 MECC tournament title[756]
Jim "Duke" McGrath
1958–1998
Played on 1958–59 freshman team, graduated in class of 1962, and went on to a storied career as a high school basketball coach;[757] was serving Le Moyne as volunteer assistant coach as of 1998, the time of his Hall of Fame induction[758]
Tommy Niland
1947–1990
Le Moyne's first varsity head coach, first freshman team head coach and first athletic director, coached varsity team for 25 seasons, program's all-time leader in wins as a head coach with 324 and NCAA tournament appearances with seven,[759] also served Le Moyne as varsity baseball head coach[760]
Earned Le Moyne's first berth in an NCAA tournament in 19 years, finishing with a 24–6 record, a new high win total for the program; won MECC regular-season and tournament championships[218]
Earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, finishing with a 24–6 record, matching the highest win total for the program; won NECC tournament championship
Don Familo
1992–present
Color commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio and video streaming broadcasts[761]
Chris Granozio
1992–present
Play-by-play commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio and video streaming broadcasts[762]
John "Doc" Joiner
1977–2015
Le Moyne employee for 38 years; first athletic trainer from 1977 to 1986; also served as building supervisor for the recreation center, Le Moyne's first athletic equipment manager, transportation coordinator and volunteer strength coach[763]
Claude "Red" Parton
1950–55, 1956–57
Play-by-play commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio broadcasts[764]
Dick Rockwell
1969–2009
Inducted in 1988, for his accomplishments as Le Moyne's baseball coach;[765] served as athletic director from 1990 to 2009
Bernie Quinn
1947–51
First team manager, including manager of the 1947–48 freshman team, business manager for Le Moyne Athletic Association from 1949 to 1951;[766][767] served as the first timekeeper in the Le Moyne Events Center from 1962 through at least 1987[711]
↑ Lynch attended Manlius High School, which fielded a combined basketball team with Fayetteville High School, during his two varsity seasons (1954–1956).[768] The two schools merged in 1963.
Dolphins currently playing overseas
As of April5,2025[update], four former Le Moyne players are currently playing professionally overseas.[769]
The Le Moyne Dolphins have played home games in five different venues, since the inception of the program, and have an all-time home record of 639–282. Le Moyne's home record by venue through the end of the 2024–25 season is summarized as follows:
↑ One home game was played at the venue during each of the 1954–55, 1978–79 and 2000–01 seasons.
↑ Alternate home venue when Onondaga County War Memorial was not available.
State Fair Coliseum (1948–1951)
Toyota Coliseum in 2021.
The Dolphins' first home venue was the State Fair Coliseum, now known as the Toyota Coliseum, at 581 State Fair Boulevard in Geddes, New York,[770] which they shared with the Syracuse Nationals and the Syracuse Orange. The Nationals moved into the Coliseum from the West Jefferson Street Armory for the 1948–49 season, their final campaign in the National Basketball League before that circuit's merger with the Basketball Association of America formed the NBA. The Orangemen moved into the Coliseum in 1947, after their on-campus gymnasium was destroyed by fire.[771] The Orange played their 1946–47 home games in the West Jefferson Street Armory, after a Syracuse city engineer issued an order that prohibited gatherings in the on-campus gym of more than 792 people due to inadequate fire exits.[772] The Coliseum had a seating capacity of 7,500 for basketball.
Onondaga County War Memorial (1951–1952, 1955–1957)
Onondaga County War Memorial in 1954.
The Dolphins, along with the Nationals and the Orange, moved into the new Onondaga County War Memorial, now known as the Upstate Medical University Arena, at 800 South State Street in Syracuse for the 1951–52 season. The arena had a seating capacity for basketball of 7,200.[773]
After one season at the War Memorial, Le Moyne moved their home games to the West Jefferson Street Armory in 1952. They returned to the War Memorial for the 1955–56 season, when they reached an agreement with the Syracuse Orange pursuant to which the two schools scheduled their home games as doubleheaders.[774] Le Moyne withdrew from the agreement after the 1956–57 season and returned to the Armory.[775]
North Syracuse High School (1951–1952)
When the Dolphins changed their primary home venue from the State Fair Coliseum to the Onondaga County War Memorial for the 1951–52 season, the War Memorial was not available for all scheduled home games. North Syracuse High School's gymnasium, located at 205 South Main Street in North Syracuse, was used to host three of Le Moyne's games, including their home opener and home finale, as an alternate venue.[776] The gym had a seating capacity of 600 for basketball.[777][778]
North Syracuse High School moved to a new building in 1955,[779] and the building that formerly housed the school became Main Street Elementary School. As of 2025[update], the building houses the North Syracuse Early Education Program.[780]
West Jefferson Street Armory (1952–1955, 1957–1962)
West Jefferson Street Armory depicted on a 1908 postcard.
The Dolphins moved their home games to the West Jefferson Street Armory at 236 West Jefferson Street in Syracuse for the 1952–53 season.[781] After three seasons at the Armory, Le Moyne returned to the War Memorial for two seasons. The Dolphins moved their home games back to the Armory for the 1957–58 season,[775][782] and were based at the venue until their on-campus fieldhouse was built in 1962. The Armory's seating capacity was 3,000.[783] Portable bleachers could expand the seating capacity to 5,000.
The Le Moyne Dolphins presently play their home games on Ted Grant Court in the 2,637-seat Le Moyne Events Center;[784] the seating capacity for basketball reported to the NCAA is 2,000.[1]
Ground was broken on construction of the Events Center in March 1961, and the arena opened on December 1, 1962, with a varsity basketball game featuring Le Moyne versus archrival Siena.[785] The varsity game against Siena was the nightcap of a doubleheader that opened with Le Moyne's freshman team defeating Powelson Business Institute, 65–47.[786] The arena underwent a significant renovation in 2016,[787] and reopened on October 12 of that year.
The Events Center hosted regional games of the 1965,[89]1966,[103]1969,[124]2017 and 2018 NCAA College Division/Division II tournaments.
↑ Hickey, Bill (March 21, 1951). "Dolphin Sportlights"(PDF). The Dolphin. p.3. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 8, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
↑ Levine, Barry (April 6, 1983). "Beilein New Coach of Dolphs". section B. The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.B-1, B-8. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
↑ "Tough Tourney Tests Dolphins". The Dolphin. Vol.XL, no.20. Le Moyne College. December 10, 1987. p.12. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
↑ Vecchio, Valerie (December 11, 1987). "Dolphins Stand Tall on Boards". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-3. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
↑ Kramer, Lindsay (February 23, 1989). "Loss to Le Moyne Frustrates Buffalo". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-6. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
↑ Eppolito, Anthony (February 1, 1990). "Rockwell Named Athletic Director". The Dolphin. Vol.XLIII, no.2. Le Moyne College. p.1. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
↑ Ellison, Richard (March 10, 1990). "Gannon Slips by Le Moyne". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.E-7. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
↑ "Le Moyne Loses". Syracuse Herald-American. March 11, 1990. p.E-8. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
↑ Panepento, Pete (March 1, 1990). "Men to Host Pace Tomorrow Night". The Dolphin. Vol.XLIII, no.5. Le Moyne College. p.11. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
↑ Albanese, Jeanne (January 5, 1993). "Le Moyne in a League of Its Own". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.B-4. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
↑ Albanese, Jeanne; Ruffin, Anthony (January 28, 1993). "Child Shall Lead Them". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.D-7. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
↑ Bryant, Milo F. (March 2, 1997). "Le Moyne Heading to NCAAs". Syracuse Herald-American. p.G-1–G-2. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
↑ Vecchio, Valerie (March 9, 1996). "Le Moyne's Ride Ends in NCAAs". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.E-1, E-5. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
1 2 Bryant, Milo F. (March 8, 1997). "St. Rose Clips Le Moyne's Season". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.D-1, D-4. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
↑ "Le Moyne 80, Bentley 64". Syracuse Herald-American. February 23, 1997. p.D-8. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
↑ "Northeast-10". Syracuse Herald-Journal. February 25, 1997. p.B-5. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
↑ Ruffin, Anthony (March 6, 1993). "Le Moyne's Run Ends". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-5. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
↑ Kramer, Lindsay (November 19, 1993). "Le Moyne Lineup Gets an Overhaul". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-4. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
↑ Quirini, Paul (December 10, 1993). "Student Gambling Reprimanded". The Dolphin. Vol.XLVII, no.11. Le Moyne College. p.1. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
↑ Szczesny, John (September 11, 1997). "Basketball Team Competes in England". The Dolphin. Vol.XLVVI, no.2. Le Moyne College. p.11. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
↑ Geglia, Christopher (October 23, 1997). "Le Moyne Moves Closer to MAAC". The Dolphin. Vol.XLVVI, no.7. Le Moyne College. p.12. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
↑ Michael, Matt (February 11, 2004). "Fabulous Five". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.D-7. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
↑ "Bryant 76, AIC 64". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. February 29, 2004. p.D-7. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
↑ Michael, Matt (March 2, 2004). "End of an Era". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.D-1, D-6. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
↑ "Dolphins' Thorpe Honored". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. March 12, 2004. p.D-2. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
↑ Goodman, Matt (November 10, 2004). "Dolphins Young, Confident". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.F-13. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
↑ Baxter, Kim (November 2, 2004). "This is Dolphins' Shining Moment". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.D-4. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
↑ "Le Moyne Men Get First Win". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. December 19, 2004. p.D-4. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
↑ Arsenault, Ryan (February 3, 2005). "Men's Basketball Wins Five in a Row". The Dolphin. Vol.LVIII, no.13. Le Mooyne College. p.16. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
↑ "Le Moyne 93, Assumption 91". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. February 13, 2005. p.D-6. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
↑ van der Horst, Roger (February 3, 1983). "Utica Nips Dolphins in OT". section C. The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. p.C-1. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
↑ Webb, Donnie (February 15, 1991). "Le Moyne Hangs Tough against Siena". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-7. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
↑ Wallinger, Mark (January 12, 1984). "Mansfield Handles Le Moyne". section C. The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.C-1, C-5. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
↑ Kramer, Lindsay (December 9, 1989). "Le Moyne Sets Up Final with Power". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. pp.E-1, E-5. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
↑ Conroe, Scott (December 10, 1989). "Dolphins Break Sacred Heart". Syracuse Herald-American. pp.D-1 D-4. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
↑ Picardi, Fred (November 11, 1949). "Sportlights"(PDF). The Dolphin. Vol.III, no.2. p.3. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
↑ Rinella, Jim (October 9, 1952). "New Site for Home Hoop Games"(PDF). The Dolphin. Vol.VI, no.2. p.5. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
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