Syracuse, N.Y. – Graduate student forward Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee/Siena/Bryant) scored a game-high 22 points to lead the fourth-seeded Le Moyne College men's basketball team to an 82-61 victory over FDU in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at Ted Grant Court.

With the victory, the Dolphins advance to the NEC semifinals and will visit second-seeded Merrimack College on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. This marks the third straight year as conference foes that the Dolphins and Warriors have met in a conference semifinal as they squared off in Syracuse in the NE10 semifinals in 2018 and 2019 before Merrimack transitioned to Division I.

Sutherland, an NEC All-Conference Second Team selection, tallied 13 of his 22 points in the opening half, while finishing the game 4-of-6 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the foul line to go with four rebounds. Senior guard Darrick Jones Jr. (Richmond, Va./Oak Hill Academy/Towson) registered 17 points, including 10 in the second half on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point territory. Graduate student guard Kaiyem Cleary (Manchester, England/Redemption Christian Academy (NY)/Florida Southern/Florida Southwestern/Ball State), an NEC First Team honoree, posted 13 points and seven rebounds, while graduate student guard Mike DePersia (Cherry Hill, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial/IUPUI) had eight assists, seven rebounds, five points and three steals.

Sean Moore, an NEC Third Team selection, led the Knights in the setback with 16 points, 13 of which came in the first half, and eight rebounds. Joe Munden Jr. registered 14 points, including 10 from the foul line, and grabbed five rebounds. First Team All-Conference selection Ansley Almonor was held to just seven points, almost 10 points below his seasonal average.

The Dolphins jumped out to a 9-0 lead in just 1:45 of action. Sutherland drained a three-pointer on the game's first possession, Jones Jr. followed with one of his own 32 seconds later and then graduate student guard Nate McClure (Houston, Texas/Concordia Lutheran/Texas State/State Fair C.C./IUPUI) drilled one 46 seconds later to force an FDU timeout.

After FDU got on the scoreboard with a conventional three-point play, DePersia scored in the paint and Cleary made two free throws to give the Dolphins their first double-digit lead of the game.

FDU scored five in a row to cut its deficit in half with 14:51 left and then the teams went back and forth over the next five minutes as Le Moyne's lead bounced between six and nine points.

Following Sutherland's second three-pointer of the half for a 20-11 lead, the Knights scored six in a row to pull within a single possession. Jo'el Emanuel had a conventional three-point play, Brayden Reynolds made a free throw and then Emanuel had a dunk with 9:02 left.

Le Moyne responded with nine straight points and 14 of 16 to regain its double-digit advantage. Sutherland hit another three-pointer, Cleary had a three-point play and then graduate student guard Isaiah Salter (Charlotte, N.C./ Central Cabarrus/American International/Adelphi) buried a three-pointer. After Moore made a jumper, Cleary answered six seconds later in the paint and then DePersia knocked down a three-pointer for a 34-19 lead with 6:28 left.

The Knights responded with seven straight points to get within eight. Munden Jr. and Moore made jumpers and then Moore hit a three-pointer in transition.

Le Moyne pushed its lead back to 12 on a pair of occasions in the final three and one-half minutes of the half, but FDU scored the final four points of the period to get within 42-34 at halftime.

The Knights got within six three times in the opening two minutes of the second half, but the Dolphins countered with 11 straight points over 2:09 to take control of the game. Jones Jr. made two free throws, Sutherland and Cleary scored in the paint, Cleary made another jumper and then Jones Jr. splashed in a three-pointer in transition for a 57-40 lead with 15:42 left.

FDU closed within 12 twice over the next three and one-quarter minutes, but were unable to get any closer. Munden Jr. scored five points in the span for the Knights.

Redshirt freshman forward Nate Fouts (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles/Kimball Union Academy), Jones Jr. and McClure each connected on three-pointers over the next 3:39 as the Dolphins pushed their lead to 19 with 8:44 to play.

Following a Moore three-pointer, Sutherland made two foul shots and Salter drained another three-pointer to give his team its first lead of 20+ points of the game, 73-52, with 7:10 remaining.

Terrence Brown, an NEC All-Rookie Team selection hit a jumper to get the Knights within 17 for the final time.

The Dolphins scored the next nine points for their largest lead of the game. Sutherland hit his last three-pointer (pictured above) and made two free throws, Fouts had a lay-up and then junior forward Ocypher Owens (Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep/Indian River State) finished off Le Moyne's scoring with a lay-up with 48 seconds left.

FDU scored the final five points to deliver the final score.