Syracuse, N.Y. – Four Dolphins scored in double figures as the Le Moyne College men's basketball team registered a 97-70 win over Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Ted Grant Court.

Redshirt senior guard Malik Garner (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow/Sunrise Christian Academy/Saginaw Valley State) led the Dolphins offensively with 21 points, including 11 in the second half, while grabbing five rebounds. Senior forward Tom Brown (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) just missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Nino Hernandez (Gardner, Mass./The Winchendon School/Bryant) recorded 13 points and six rebounds, while graduate student guard Oshea Gairey (Toronto, Ontario/St. John's Catholic Prep (Md.)/Simon Fraser) tallied 10 points off the bench.

Taurus Adams II led four Owls in double figures with 18 points, including 12 in the first half, while grabbing six rebounds. Lyron Bennett came off the bench to score 17 points, including 11 in the second half, and pull down eight rebounds. C.J. Seaforth posted nine of his 11 points in the second half. Khalil Richard, who scored 13 points for Siena College in Le Moyne's 73-71 exhibition victory over the Saints on November 4, 2017, scored eight of his 10 points in the second half.

After the teams split the first 12 points of the game, the Dolphins scored 12 straight points and 15 of the next 17 points to take the lead for good. Five Dolphins scored in the streak, led by four points from sophomore forward BB Chuks-Mady (Hamilton, Ontario/GTA Prep), three-pointers by Hernandez, Garner and junior guard Tim Leavell (Marion, Ind./Marion/State Fair C.C.) and a shot in the paint by Brown.

Following back-and-forth action over the next four and one-half minutes, the Owls scored four points in a row to get within six for the final time with 7:13 left in the half. Bennett and Adams II each made shots in the paint.

After another basket by Adams II with 3:36 left, the Dolphins closed out the half with a 12-3 run over the last 3:28 for a 47-29 lead at the intermission. Garner bookended the run with baskets, while Hernandez hit a three-pointer, Gairey had three points and Brown made a lay-up.

The Owls whittled their deficit down to 13 with a 16-11 stretch over the opening five minutes of the second half. Five players scored in the span, led by five points from Seaforth.

Le Moyne answered with eight straight points to take its first 20-point lead of the game. Brown had a put-back lay-up and then senior guard Ryan Roland (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Mercyhurst) and Garner drilled three-pointers.

Following five points by Richard in 13 seconds, the Dolphins scored 10 of the next 12 points. Gairey and Leavell each scored three points in the span, while Brown and Garner each had two.

After Adams II got the Owls within 20 for the final time with 7:49 left, the Dolphins scored seven straight points for their largest lead of the game with 5:51 left at 87-60. Senior guard Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic/Caldwell) and graduate student forward Lonnie Rivera (Spring Valley, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)/American/Wagner) made shots in the paint and then Garner buried a three-pointer.

Christopher Wright got the Owls within 92-70 with 2:29 left before senior guard Wyatt Self (Davidson, N.C./Pine Lake Prep/Elev8 Sports Institute/Campbell) scored the final five points of the game.

Le Moyne (6-4, 4-0 NE10) returns to action on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Mercyhurst University, the defending Atlantic Region champion.