In a nail-biting finish at the Ted Grant Court in Syracuse, New York, Le Moyne College's Dolphins edged out the Mercyhurst University Lakers 58-57 on Thursday evening, keeping their playoff hopes alive in the Northeast Conference.
Shilo Jackson emerged as the hero for Le Moyne, pouring in a game-high 28 points to lead his team to victory. According to the Associated Press, Jackson also grabbed eight rebounds, providing a crucial presence on the boards for the Dolphins, who improved to 13-13 overall and 8-5 in conference play with the win.
The game remained tight throughout, with neither team able to pull away decisively. Trent Mosquera delivered a key moment late in the contest, sinking a shot that gave Le Moyne a 58-54 advantage with just 2:02 left on the clock. Mercyhurst's Sean Lang responded immediately at the other end, draining a 3-pointer that trimmed the deficit to a single point and capped the scoring for the night.
For the Lakers, who fell to 12-14 overall and 7-6 in the NEC, Bernie Blunt led the scoring with 14 points while also contributing four steals on defense. Jake Lemelman added 12 points and three steals, showing the team's resilience despite the loss. Mykolas Ivanauskas rounded out the double-digit scorers for Mercyhurst with 11 points and two steals, highlighting a defensive effort that kept the game close until the final buzzer.
Le Moyne, based in Syracuse, has been navigating a middling season in the Northeast Conference, a league known for its competitive balance among mid-major programs. The Dolphins entered the matchup coming off a mixed stretch, with recent wins providing momentum heading into this crucial tilt against a fellow conference rival. Mercyhurst, hailing from Erie, Pennsylvania, has similarly hovered around .500, making every game a must-win as the postseason approaches.
The Associated Press reported that the story was generated using technology from Data Skrive and data provided by Sportradar, ensuring accurate box score details. While specific play-by-play accounts were limited, the final margin underscored the defensive intensity on display, as both teams combined for just 115 points in a low-scoring affair typical of NEC battles.
Jackson's performance marks a standout night for the junior guard, who has been a consistent scorer for Le Moyne this season. His ability to score efficiently while crashing the boards helped the Dolphins maintain possession in critical moments. Teammates like Mosquera stepped up when it mattered most, converting on a possession that proved to be the difference-maker.
On the Mercyhurst side, the Lakers' backcourt duo of Blunt and Lemelman provided sparks with their steals, disrupting Le Moyne's rhythm at key junctures. Ivanauskas' contributions from the wing added versatility, but the team couldn't find the equalizer in the dying seconds. Coach's comments were not immediately available, but the narrow defeat leaves Mercyhurst needing strong finishes in their remaining games to secure a tournament berth.
This matchup between Le Moyne and Mercyhurst is part of a broader Northeast Conference schedule that features intense rivalries and high stakes for at-large bids. The NEC, comprising 10 teams primarily from the Northeast, has seen parity this year, with no clear dominant force. Le Moyne's win moves them into a tie for fourth place, while Mercyhurst slips to fifth, according to conference standings updated post-game.
Looking back at recent form, Le Moyne had won three of their last five entering Thursday, including a solid home victory earlier in the week. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, had split their previous series, showing flashes of potential but struggling with consistency on the road. The game in Syracuse highlighted these trends, with the home team capitalizing on crowd support to eke out the victory.
Beyond the box score, the contest showcased the physicality of Division I basketball at the mid-major level. Rebounds were contested fiercely, and turnovers—exacerbated by Mercyhurst's steals—kept the pace deliberate. Jackson's rebounding total, in particular, helped Le Moyne control the tempo, preventing second-chance opportunities for the Lakers.
As the regular season winds down, both teams face pivotal stretches. Le Moyne hosts a key divisional foe next weekend, aiming to build on this momentum. Mercyhurst returns home for a revenge opportunity against a recent conqueror, where they'll need to sharpen their late-game execution to climb the standings.
The Northeast Conference tournament, set to tip off in early March at a yet-to-be-determined campus site, looms large. With Le Moyne now at 8-5 in league play, they're firmly in the mix for a top-four seed, which carries byes in the early rounds. Mercyhurst, at 7-6, remains one win away from tying that mark, but the loss stings in a conference where every point differential could matter for seeding.
Fans and analysts alike will watch Jackson closely in the coming weeks, as his scoring prowess could propel Le Moyne deeper into March. For Mercyhurst, the focus shifts to collective defense, building on the steals from Blunt, Lemelman, and Ivanauskas to force more turnovers. In a league defined by close games—over 60% of NEC contests decided by single digits this season—resilience will be key.
Thursday's thriller in Syracuse serves as a microcosm of the NEC grind: talent on display, heartbreak for one side, and renewed hope for the other. As both programs push toward the postseason, this 58-57 classic will be remembered as a turning point in their campaigns.