Loretto, Pa. – Graduate student forward Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee/Siena/Bryant) flirted with a triple-double to lead the Le Moyne College men's basketball team to a 74-58 victory over Saint Francis University in the Northeast Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at DeGol Arena.

With the victory, the Dolphins finish the regular season with a 9-7 record in NEC action and close out the campaign in a tie for fourth place with FDU. The Dolphins earn the fourth seed and will host an NEC Tournament quarterfinal game on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. against fifth-seeded FDU by virtue of winning the tiebreaker over the Knights due to winning a game over first-place Central Connecticut State.

"I thought we played a complete team game today," said head coach Nate Champion '14. "I am extremely happy with how we played and executed our game plan. I'm also extremely happy for our guys on achieving the goal of hosting the first round of the NEC tournament. This is what March is all about! Hopefully we can create some madness!"

Sutherland finished the game with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, a career-high eight assists, seven rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Graduate student guard Kaiyem Cleary (Manchester, England/Redemption Christian Academy (NY)/Florida Southern/Florida Southwestern/Ball State) registered 16 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Senior guard Darrick Jones Jr. (Richmond, Va./Oak Hill Academy/Towson) went 3-of-3 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the foul line for 12 points to go with two assists and two steals.

Carlos Lopez, Jr. led the Red Flash in defeat with 17 points. Bobby Rosenberger almost posted a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Aaron Talbert recorded 10 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

After Talbert opened the game's scoring with a three-pointer to give the Red Flash their only lead of the game, the Dolphins scored 10 straight points. Graduate student guard Nate McClure (Houston, Texas/Concordia Lutheran/Texas State/State Fair C.C./IUPUI) answered with a three-pointer of his own 16 seconds later, Cleary made two free throws, Sutherland had a conventional three-point play and then McClure had a fast-break lay-up.

Following five points from each team, Jones Jr. drained his first three-pointer of the game to put the Dolphins up by double digits for the first time with 11:58 remaining in the opening half.

Saint Francis scored 16 of the next 23 points to cut its deficit to just one point, 25-24, with 7:32 left. Lopez, Jr. scored the first six points, Rosenberger made two foul shots, Lopez, Jr. hit his second three-pointer of the run, Rosenberger followed with a lay-up and then Talbert buried a three-pointer.

Le Moyne countered with an 11-4 jaunt to regain control of the game. Graduate student guard Isaiah Salter (Charlotte, N.C./Central Cabarrus/American International/Adelphi) drilled his second three-pointer of the half, Sutherland made a jumper, Jones Jr. made two free throws and a three-pointer and then McClure connected on a free throw for a 36-28 lead with 2:00 left in the half.

The Red Flash scored six of the last nine points of the half to get within 39-34 at the intermission. Gestin Liberis scored the first four points for the Red Flash.

The Dolphins scored the first nine points of the second half to take their first 14-point lead of the contest. Jones Jr. and Sutherland buried three-pointers on back-to-back possessions and then McClure followed 31 seconds later with a conventional three-point play.

Saint Francis scored the next four points, but Sutherland answered with a lay-up and Cleary followed with a three-pointer for a 15-point lead with 15:42 remaining.

After the Dolphins were scoreless over the next 5:10, during which Saint Francis only scored four points, Sutherland drained a three-pointer, but Lopez, Jr. countered with one of his own and Eli Wilborn followed with a lay-up to get the Red Flash within nine with 8:47 to play.

Following four points from Sutherland around a Talbert free throw over the next 2:14, Talbert made another free throw and Lopez, Jr. drained a three-pointer to get Saint Francis within 60-52 with 6:33 remaining.

Le Moyne put the game away with 14 consecutive points over 3:42. Graduate student guard Mike DePersia (Cherry Hill, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial/IUPUI) made a lay-up, Cleary and Sutherland drilled three-pointers, Cleary made four free throws in a span of 37 seconds and then freshman guard AJ Dancler (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) capped the streak with a fast-break lay-up with 2:34 remaining off a steal by Jones Jr.

Saint Francis narrowed its deficit with the final six points.