Easton, Mass. – Sophomore guard Jakai Sanders (Brooklyn, N.Y./Eagle Academy/Saint Peter's) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Le Moyne College men's basketball team to an 83-79 victory over Monmouth University on the second day of The Lafayette Classic on Saturday afternoon at Lafayette's Kirby Sports Center.

Sanders recorded 12 points in the first half and 11 in the second half, including 4-of-4 from the foul line in the final 12 seconds, while adding a career-best seven assists. Graduate student forward Shilo Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central/Vincennes/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) registered his second straight double-double and third in four games with 21 points (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field), including 15 in the second half, and 11 rebounds, including eight after halftime, while adding four blocks. Redshirt junior guard Trent Mosquera (Boston, Mass./Belmont Hill School) and sophomore guard Jakob Blakley (Elgin, Ill./Walter Payton Preparatory) each tallied 11 points. Redshirt sophomore guard Deng Garang (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) posted 10 second-half points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.

Jason Rivera-Torres led the Hawks with a double-double of 21 points, including 15 in the second half, and 11 rebounds, nine after halftime. Stefanos Spartalis also had a double-double with 11 first-half points and 10 rebounds. Cornelius Robinson Jr. posted 14 points.
 
The Dolphins jumped out to a 14-7 lead through the first five and one-half minutes. Blakley and Sanders each had five of the points, while Jackson had four.

After the teams traded points over the next five and one-half minutes, resulting in a 23-17 Le Moyne lead, Monmouth scored 10 straight points to take its first lead. Spartalis started the run with a conventional three-point play, Jinup Dobuol made a three-pointer to tie the score, Spartalis had a fast-break dunk for the lead and then Andrew Ball made a lay-up to force a Le Moyne timeout.

The Dolphins countered with five points in a row to regain the lead with 5:12 to go until halftime. Junior guard Tennessee Rainwater (Davenport, Wash./Davenport/Utah Tech) had a lay-up off a steal, Mosquera made a free throw and then Jackson had a put-back lay-up.

The teams then exchanged the lead three times over the next 2:16 before they traded points over the final two minutes, which resulted in Monmouth taking a 37-36 lead into the intermission.

Jackson opened the second half with a dunk, but Monmouth scored six points in 19 seconds to take a five-point advantage. Robinson Jr. had a conventional three-point play and then Rivera-Torres drained a three-pointer.

Le Moyne countered with three consecutive three-pointers in 57 seconds to take the lead back. Garang hit the first two and then Sanders drilled the third with 15:52 left.

The teams alternated 4-0 runs over the next two and one-half minutes, resulting in a tie at 51 with just over 13 minutes left.

Following ties at 53 and 55, Sanders and Jackson made back-to-back lay-ups for a 59-55 Le Moyne lead with 10 minutes remaining.

After the teams traded points over the next 90 seconds, Monmouth scored six straight points to regain the lead. Dok Muordar made a free throw and Justin Ray followed with a three-pointer off an offensive rebound and then Ray converted a lay-up off a steal for Monmouth's final lead.

Sanders answered with two free throws to tie the score and then Mosquera buried a three-pointer from the left corner to put the Dolphins in front.

Rivera-Torres had tip-ins on back-to-back possessions to even the score at 69 and then a third 88 seconds later to knot the score at 71 with 3:11 left.

Mosquera put the Dolphins in front for good with a three-pointer from the right corner with 2:23 to go.

After Ball and Jackson traded baskets, Jackson put the Dolphins up by four with a free throw with 34 seconds left.

Each team made six free throws over the final 22 seconds to close out the game.

Le Moyne (4-4), which has won back-to-back non-conference games against Division I opponents for the first time since making its transition to Division I, closes out play at The Lafayette Classic on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. against Ball State University.