Stonehill College Dominates Le Moyne in NEC Matchup

Syracuse, N.Y. — In a thrilling NEC basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon at Ted Grant Court, Stonehill College emerged victorious with a 65-54 win over Le Moyne College. The game was highlighted by standout performances from several players, with Davante Hackett leading the way with a double-double.

Key Performances

Redshirt junior swingman Trent Mosquera delivered an impressive showing, scoring 17 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. He also contributed three assists, three blocks, and two steals. His efforts were crucial in helping the Dolphins make a strong second-half push.

Junior guard Samuel Hincapie was the only other Dolphin in double digits, tallying 10 points, all of which came in the second half. His contributions were vital in keeping the team competitive during critical moments.

Hackett, who played a pivotal role for Stonehill, recorded 22 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. He added three assists to his stat line, showcasing his all-around impact on the court. Hermann Koffi also had a strong performance, scoring 15 points, while Ethan Meuser provided a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, along with three blocks.

Game Highlights

The Skyhawks started the game strongly, scoring the first four points and building an 18-8 lead after eight minutes. Hackett led the charge with seven points, while Koffi added six and Raymond Espinal-Guzman hit a three-pointer.

Mosquera ignited an 18-6 run by the Dolphins with five points in 28 seconds, helping the team take a 26-24 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first half. Sophomore forward Isaac Nyakundi followed with six points, and Mosquera hit another jumper to extend the lead.

Mosquera then drained a three-pointer to tie the score, and junior swingman Tennessee Rainwater added a lay-up to put the Dolphins ahead. Stonehill closed out the half with eight of the last 10 points, taking a 32-28 lead into halftime. Meuser scored the first five points of the run, and Hackett hit a three-pointer before the buzzer.

Second Half Momentum

The Dolphins started the second half strong, scoring the first four points to tie the game at 32. However, Hackett quickly responded with a three-pointer and a lay-up to give Stonehill a lead it would not relinquish.

After sophomore guard Jakai Sanders hit a three-pointer to bring Le Moyne to 42-40 with 13:53 left, Stonehill went on a nine-point run to take its first 11-point lead of the game. Hackett scored two baskets during the streak, while Meuser started it with a three-pointer and Koffi added a fast-break lay-up.

Le Moyne fought back, scoring nine of the next 11 points to cut the deficit to 53-49 with 7:20 remaining. Hincapie had a hot hand, hitting a three-pointer, a jumper, and a conventional three-point play in a span of 62 seconds. Deng Garang added a foul shot to keep the momentum going.

Rex Sunderland ended the run with a three-pointer, and Trenton Ruth followed with two free throws to extend the lead to nine with 4:51 left. Following three free throws by the Dolphins in 18 seconds to make it 58-52 with 3:30 remaining, Stonehill closed out the game with a 7-2 spurt.

Meuser hit a three-pointer, and Hackett added a lay-up. Koffi made two foul shots after a Rainwater lay-up to seal the victory.

Looking Ahead

Le Moyne (11-12, 6-4 NEC) suffered its second consecutive loss, dropping into a three-way tie for second place in the NEC standings. The team is set to face Wagner College at 7 p.m. on Thursday.