Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College men's basketball team had all five starters score in double-digits as it overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Chicago State University, 80-75, on Saturday afternoon in Northeast Conference action at Ted Grant Court.

Sophomore guard AJ Dancler (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) led the quintet with 19 points, 14 of which came in the second half, while adding seven rebounds and five assists. Redshirt freshman guard Deng Garang (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) tallied a career high-tying 15 points for the second straight game, including 13 in the second half, to go with three assists, two steals and two rebounds. Redshirt junior forward Dwayne Koroma (Berlin, Germany/Bishop Walsh (Md.)/Iona/Salt Lake C.C./UT Arlington) recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points, including 10 in the second half, and 13 rebounds, 10 of which came in the first half. Graduate student guard Robby Carmody (Mars, Pa./Mars Area/Notre Dame/Mercer) tallied 14 points, four assists and three rebounds. Redshirt sophomore forward Nate Fouts (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles/Kimball Union Academy) netted eight of his 12 points in the second half, while adding seven rebounds. Fifth-year guard Darrick Jones Jr. (Richmond, Va./Oak Hill Academy/Towson) hit two first-half three-pointers as the only Dolphin off the bench to score.

Jalen Forrest led all scorers in the game with 22 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Quincy Allen recorded 18 points (10 in the second half), eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in 26 minutes off the bench. Noble Crawford posted 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Matthew Robinson turned in 10 points (seven in the second half), two blocks and two steals.

After Chicago State scored the first five points of the game, the teams split the next 22 points  over seven minutes as the Cougars' lead bounced between one and five points.

Dancler then made two free throws and Jones Jr. hit his first three-pointer to knot the score at 16 with 7:28 remaining.

Chicago State countered with five points in a row and 15 of the next 22 points to open up its largest lead of the game, 31-23, with 2:19 remaining. After Saxby Sunderland had five points and Allen had four, Crawford buried two three-pointers in 26 seconds to cap the streak.

Le Moyne scored the final four points of the half to close within 31-27 at the intermission.

The Dolphins, who overcame a halftime deficit for the first time this season (0-16 previously), scored the first four points of the second half (on free throws from Dancler and Fouts) to knot the score at 31 with 18:33.

After the teams went back and forth over the next three minutes, during which time the lead changed sides four times and Dancler nailed three straight three-pointers, the Dolphins scored six straight points to take a five-point advantage. Koroma, Fouts and Garang each scored in the run.

Following a 6-2 spurt by the Cougars to get within one (48-47) with 10:36 left, the Dolphins scored 13 of the next 18 points to take their largest lead of the game, 61-52, with 7:37 left. Garang and Carmody hit three-pointers off passes from each other, Garang buried another three-pointer, Koroma had a tip-in and then Garang capped the jaunt with two free throws.

Chicago State answered with 11 of the next 13 points to tie the score at 63 with 5:17 to play. Forrest scored four points in the span, while Sunderland tied the score with a step-back three-pointer.

Following a tie at 65, the Dolphins scored five points in a row and 12 of the next 16 to regain an eight-point lead. Carmody put the Dolphins in front for good with two free throws, Garang drained his third three-pointer of the half (in three attempts), Koroma answered two Forrest baskets with two of his own and then Dancler hit the dagger three-pointer on a step-back with 23 seconds remaining.

Allen drained a pair of three-pointers around a free throw by Carmody in the final 10 seconds to get the Cougars within three, but Carmody sealed the game with two free throws with two seconds left.

Le Moyne (9-18, 4-8 NEC), which has won back-to-back games for the second time this year, remains home and will host Saint Francis University on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.