New Haven, Conn. – Sean James scored 29 points to lead Southern Connecticut State University to a 73-71 come-from-behind victory over the Le Moyne College men's basketball team in Northeast-10 Conference action on Wednesday night at Moore Field House.

Fourth-year junior forward Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee/Siena/Bryant) and first-year graduate student guard Isaiah Salter (Charlotte, N.Y./Central Cabarrus/American International/Adelphi) each totaled 16 points to lead the Dolphins offensively, while Sutherland had a team-high five rebounds and Salter dished out five assists.

James registered 13 points in the first half and then tallied 16 in the second half, while adding three rebounds and three assists. Marty Silvera contributed 14 points, including seven in each half, to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Ulyen Coleman, the NE10 Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, posted 12 points, while Cherif Diarra pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

The teams went back and forth over the six and one-half minutes, resulting in a 15-15 at the 13:31 mark. Salter had eight points in the span for the Dolphins, while James and Silvera each had five points.

After the Dolphins took a 16-15 lead with 13:17 remaining, the Owls ran off nine straight points. Silvera, Kazell Stewart and Coleman each scored in the paint and then James drained a three-pointer for a 24-16 lead with 8:47 to go.

The Dolphins got three-pointers from junior guard Darrick Jones Jr. (Richmond, Va./Oak Hill Academy/Towson) and Sutherland around a jumper by James to get within 26-22 with 7:28 left, but Zack Penn had a fast-break dunk off a steal and James buried another three-pointer to give the Owls their largest lead of the game at 31-22 with 4:40 remaining.

Le Moyne closed out the half with a 9-3 run to trim its deficit at halftime to 34-31. Senior forward Xavier Wilson (Spring Valley, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac/The Hotchkiss School/Central Connecticut State) and Sutherland made lay-ups to cut the margin to five with 3:31 to go. After a three-pointer by Coleman, Salter made a foul shot, Sutherland knocked down a jumper and then Wilson converted a fast-break lay-up prior to the buzzer.

Southern Connecticut State opened the second half with eight of the first 12 points to extend its lead to 42-35 with 16:59 remaining. Silvera made a jumper and then James and Coleman made three-pointers.

Le Moyne countered with a 15-4 run over the next 4:33 to take the lead. First-year graduate student guard Nate McClure (Houston, Texas/Concordia Lutheran/Texas State/State Fair C.C./IUPUI) started the run with a three-pointer, Salter and Jones Jr followed with baskets in the paint and then Salter drained a three-pointer for the lead. After a jumper by Penn put the Owls back in front, Wilson buried a three-pointer to take the lead back and then redshirt sophomore guard Kevin Constant (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic/Tilton School) knocked down a fast-break jumper for a 50-46 advantage.

After the Owls responded with eight of the next 10 points to take the lead back, the Dolphins rattled off 10 straight points for their largest lead of the game. Jones Jr. buried a three-pointer, Sutherland had a fast-break dunk and a three-pointer and then Constant made a lay-up for a 62-54 lead with 7:22 to play.

Southern Connecticut State ran off the next 11 points to take the lead for good. Stewart ignited the streak with a three-pointer and then James hit a jumper, a three-pointer to tie the score and a three-pointer with 4:25 remaining for the lead.

After the Dolphins scored to get within one, James made two free throws with 2:05 left and Silvera had a conventional three-point play to put the Owls up 70-64 with 1:20 remaining.

Following a Le Moyne jumper in the paint and two free throws from Stewart over the next 26 seconds, Salter made two foul shots with 31 seconds left. The Owls turned the ball over two seconds later and then first-year graduate student guard Mike DePersia (Cherry Hill, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial/IUPUI) connected on a three-pointer with 21 seconds left to get the Dolphins with one.

James drew a foul with 15 seconds left and went to the foul line, where he made the first attempt to put the Owls up by two, but missed the second and the Dolphins grabbed the rebound. McClure was able to get a runner off with the time running down, but it hit off the rim and the Dolphins were unable to tip in the miss.
 
Le Moyne (9-10, 6-5 NE10) returns home to face 11th-ranked Bentley University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.