LE MOYNE (1-2) vs. University of San Diego (2-1)
Friday, Nov. 17 – 10:00 p.m.
San Diego, California
Video: ESPN+
Radio: FOX Sports 92.5 FM/1490 AM
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne men’s basketball team travels to California on Friday night to face the University of San Diego in its fourth game of the season.
The Toreros, a WCC (West Coast Conference) member, started their campaign with a close win over Sonoma State and a dominant victory against Jackson State. In its latest game, USD fell in a competitive matchup against UC San Diego.
The Toreros won their first two games by an average of 15 points. That advantage didn’t keep up in their third matchup as USD lost 69-63 to UCSD. University of San Diego’s 63 points were its lowest of the season.
San Diego is coming off its fourth straight losing campaign. In 2022-23, the Toreros won just nine games. The squad hopes to turn that trend around after an encouraging 2-1 start to 2023-24.
USD has four players averaging double figures to start the year. Wayne McKinney III leads the way for the Toreros with nearly 18 points per game. During their loss against USCD, McKinney had 21 points, nine more than any of his teammates. The guard has at least 16 points in every contest this season.
McKinney is also an effective passer and rebounder. He leads San Diego with just under four assists a game. The junior is also second on the team on the boards, averaging 5.3.
Guard Dragos Lungu has burst onto the scene in his freshman season. Lungu, who attended the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, dropped 20 points during the Toreros’ 87-61 win over Jackson State. The Romanian has also knocked down a three-pointer in two of his three collegiate games.
Senior PJ Hayes is a consistent force for USD too. The forward has 10 or more points in two of three games this season. He’s hit two three-pointers in each of the first three contests.
Freshman Kevin Patton Jr. rounds out the balanced San Diego attack. The guard is shooting 50% from three and averaging over 10 points a game. Patton leads the team in rebounding, including a 10 board game against Jackson State.
Le Moyne travels to the west coast for the first time this season after a dominant 105-46 win over SUNY Canton on Monday.
The Dolphins captured their first win against the Kangaroos after dropping the first two games of the year to Georgetown and Villanova. Le Moyne’s 105 points were its most since the 2019-20 season when the Dolphins downed Saint Anselm College 108-88.
After giving up a combined 177 points in the first two contests, Le Moyne surrendered just 46 to SUNY Canton. The last time the Dolphins held an opponent to less was in 2018 when they beat Pace University 79-42.
Le Moyne had five players score in double figures in the victory. Kaiyem Cleary continued his hot start to the campaign with a 21 point effort, a season-high. Cleary added seven rebounds and two steals on the night in just 16 minutes. He leads the team averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Graduate student Nate McClure shined too, dropping 16 points and hitting four threes. The guard is shooting 54.5% from beyond the arc to start the year.
Senior Darrick Jones Jr. (13 points), freshman AJ Dancler (12 points), and redshirt freshman Nate Fouts (11 points) all impressed in the massive win. Each player knocked down one three-pointer in the victory.
Dancler’s 12 points were a career high for the Indiana native. Fouts made his collegiate debut against the Kangaroos and went 5-6 from the field.
Le Moyne shot over 60% from the field against SUNY Canton, its best mark of the young season. Twelve different Dolphins appeared in the win.