# Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball

The Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball program is the men's college basketball team of Le Moyne College. The Dolphins compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Northeast Conference and are currently coached by Nate Champion. The Dolphins have played their home games on Ted Grant Court at the Le Moyne Events Center in DeWitt, New York since 1962.
The Dolphins are currently transitioning to Division I and are ineligible to participate in the NCAA tournament until the 2026–27 season, assuming they meet the revised criteria under January 2025 NCAA legislation to have their four-year transition period reduced to three years and apply to the NCAA to do so.

## History
### Birth of a program (1948–1958)

The Dolphins' first varsity basketball game was a home game at the State Fair Coliseum against Siena on December 7, 1948, a 41–39 loss for Le Moyne. The opening game against Siena had been treated by Le Moyne's student body as not simply the debut of the Dolphins as a basketball team but as the first game of what was expected to become a heated rivalry. In anticipation of the game, "BEAT SIENA!" was emblazoned across the front page of the school newspaper. A pep rally was held the night before the Siena game and attended by the team, the head coach, the athletics moderator, Rev. Vincent B. Ryan, S.J., and, of course, the cheerleaders.
Le Moyne's first head coach and athletic director was Tommy Niland, who mentored the varsity basketball team for 25 years, until 1973. Niland remained at Le Moyne after his coaching career ended, continuing in his role as the athletic director until his retirement in 1990. Le Moyne's athletics center is named in his honor.
Le Moyne's first victory came on the road at the Geneva Armory against Hobart on December 10, 1948. Dave Lozo scored 13 points, and team captain Don Savage added 11, as Le Moyne cruised to a 50–37 victory.
During the first three years of its varsity basketball program, Le Moyne was led on the court by Don Savage. Savage had appeared in Le Moyne College's first ever intercollegiate contest on December 4, 1947, a 62–57 overtime victory for the freshman basketball team at Utica. More than 400 Le Moyne students made the trip to see the game. Savage had eight points in that game, while Dave Lozo had a game-high 18 for the Dolphin Cubs. Joe Boehm served as captain of that freshman team, which went 16–4 and was coached by Tommy Niland in an effort to build the basketball program from the ground up. Niland pulled double duty, serving as coach of both the varsity and freshman teams through the end of the 1949–50 season.
The challenge faced by Le Moyne during its inaugural varsity season was unique. The Dolphins were not simply a first-year basketball team; Le Moyne College was a second-year institution. Therefore, the Dolphins were composed entirely of sophomores and faced teams with experienced juniors and seniors in every game.
In June 1950, Le Moyne became a charter member of the Eastern Catholic Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (ECIAC). After only one season, the ECIAC ceased publicizing itself as a conference and became an association of its member schools with no basketball champion crowned, leaving Le Moyne an independent again for 1951–52.
In June 1955, Le Moyne became a charter member of the new Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA).
The Dolphins produced seven winning campaigns and only two losing records in the first 10 seasons of their varsity program. They made their first postseason appearance in only their second season with no seniors on the roster at the 1950 Utica Optimist Club Invitational Tournament and took the title. Le Moyne followed up by repeating as champions in Utica in 1951 and 1952.
The Dolphins participated in the prestigious National Catholic Invitational Tournament (NCIT) in both 1951 and 1952. At the 1951 tournament, Le Moyne defeated archrival Siena, ranked no. 18 in the AP major program poll, on the Indians' home floor, the Dolphins' first victory over a ranked major program. Le Moyne finished third in the 1951 tournament and reached the quarterfinals in 1952.
The Dolphins had 25 wins over University Division/major programs during their first decade, three of which came against opponents ranked in the AP major program poll. Their record against such foes was 25–49, including 3–4 versus ranked teams.
Don Savage was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in 1951, and, as of 2025, he is the only former Dolphin to play in the NBA. Savage was selected as the most valuable player of the 1950 and 1951 Utica Optimist Club tournaments and named to the 1951 NCIT all-tournament team. He ended his collegiate career as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer with 1,341 points in three varsity seasons. Dick Kenyon, who played varsity basketball for four years, surpassed Savage's career total in 1956, finishing with 1,378 points.

### Glory era (1958–1969)
#### First two NCAA tournament berths (1958–1960)

The 1958–59 season marked the start of a golden era for Le Moyne Dolphins basketball. They appeared in seven of the 11 NCAA College Division tournaments between 1959 and 1969, reaching the Sweet 16 in 1959 and 1964.
The Dolphins were co-champions of the MECAA and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1959, ranked no. 20 nationally in the small college coaches poll. The Dolphins reached the Sweet 16, where they lost at Saint Michael's to finish the season 18–6. Junior Dick Lynch was unanimously named to the NCAA tournament All-Regional team and was also named to the All-MECAA first team for the second straight year. Senior Bob Hollembaek made the All-MECAA second team, and sophomore Chuck Sammons earned honorable mention. Dolphins head coach Tommy Niland was unanimously selected as 1959 MECAA coach of the year. Lynch also earned honorable mention on the Catholic All-America team.
The Dolphins won the MECAA championship outright and made their second straight NCAA tournament appearance in 1960. They lost the regional semifinal game to Saint Anselm and the regional third-place game to Assumption to finish 13–5. Le Moyne's head coach, Tommy Niland, was unanimously chosen as 1960 MECAA coach of the year. Niland was also named Catholic small college coach of the year. Dick Lynch was named a MECAA All-Star, a first-team Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) small college All-Star and a second-team Catholic small college All-Star. John Caveny and Bill Stanley were both named All-MECAA second team. The 1959–60 Dolphins were inducted into the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team in 2011.

#### MECAA tournament title and an on-campus home (1960–1963)

The MECA organized an in-season tournament in December 1960, hosted by Saint Peter's. The Dolphins defeated the host Peacocks, Iona and Long Island to win the tournament title. Bill Stanley had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the final and was named the tournament most valuable player.
The Dolphins had their 22-game home winning streak snapped by Saint Anselm, losing, 83–68, on January 6, 1961. The Dolphins' previous home loss had been a 65–50 drubbing at the hands of St. Bonaventure on February 5, 1958. In early January, Le Moyne was ranked no. 13 in the country among all Catholic schools. This ranking included both University Division and College Division institutions. However, the Dolphins fell out of the rankings after the loss to Saint Anselm.
Bill Stanley grabbed 22 rebounds to break his own program record and scored a game-high 24 points in the Dolphins 73–69 loss at Buffalo State on February 2, 1961.
The losses of Bill Stanley, the team's leading scorer and rebounder at the time of his injury, and Chris Pitman, a key rotation player off the bench, was too much for the Dolphin to overcome down the stretch, and they lost four of their final six games, finishing 16–7 in collegiate contests. Stanley was unanimously named a 1961 MECAA All-Star. John Caveny and Tom Burns were named second-team MECAA All-Stars.
The Dolphins were 13–9 overall and 4–1 in MECAA play in 1961–62, winning their third conference championship. Bill Stanley was the 1962 MECAA most valuable player and Tommy Niland was the conference's coach of the year. It was the first time a Le Moyne player had earned a conference MVP award and the third MECAA coach of the year honor for Niland. It was Stanley's second straight MECAA All-Star selection. John Caveny was named to the MECAA All-Star second team.
The Dolphins' first game in their new Le Moyne Athletic Center was a 43–41 victory over archrival Siena on December 1, 1962.
The Dolphins suffered through a mid-season slump and finished the 1962–63 season with a 12–10 record in collegiate contests. Mickey Flynn was named All-MECAA first team.

#### Three straight NCAA tournament bids (1963–1966)

The Dolphins returned to the NCAA tournament in 1964, for the first time in four years. They entered the tournament as MECAA champions with a 4–1 league record and 17–5 overall and winners of five straight and 14 of their previous 15 games. The Dolphins had two victories over University Division opponents. Le Moyne met Youngstown State, ranked no. 6 nationally in the Associated Press College Division poll at the time,$^{:8}$ in the regional semifinals. Le Moyne's stifling defense, fierce rebounding and hot shooting by Gary DeYulia led to a six-point burst in just a minute and a half that put them ahead, 54–44, with 4:08 to play, and the Dolphins were not challenged the rest of the way. DeYulia shot 10 for 15 and had a game-high 20 points. As a team, the Dolphins shot 57% from the floor, while their zone defense limited the Penguins to 39% shooting.$^{:26}$
The Dolphins met Akron, the region's host in the Mideast Regional Final Sweet 16 game. The Zips scored early and often. Meanwhile, it took six and a half minutes for the Dolphins to put their first points on the board. Akron dominated the game wire to wire, winning by a score of 62–38. Akron's defense frustrated Le Moyne's top scorer Gary DeYulia, who finished with six points on 2-for-15 shooting. Le Moyne's Tom Cooney was named to the All-Regional team. Cooney had 24 points in the two tournament games.$^{:26}$
Tommy Niland was named 1964 MECAA coach of the year, the fourth time he was so honored. Gary DeYulia was named All-MECAA first team, and Tom Cooney was selected for the second team. DeYulia was also named an ECAC All-Star.
In April 1964, Le Moyne College announced that it would sponsor and participate in a four-team Christmas invitational basketball tournament to take place on December 29 and 30. The Dolphins won the tournament, and Gary DeYulia was named most valuable player.
Gerry Glose came off the bench to score 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting to lead the Dolphins to a 61–51 victory at Clarkson on February 24, 1965. Gary DeYulia, slowed by a calf injury, had 18 points for Le Moyne, who won their 15th straight game and improved to 17–2 on the season.
The Dolphins accepted a bid to host the Northeast Regionals of the 1965 NCAA College Division tournament. Aside from the Dolphins' stellar record, the selection committee cited the outstanding support shown by both students and area residents for the Dolphins at recent games as well as during the Christmas tournament. Le Moyne head coach Tommy Niland was named tournament director for the regional.
The Dolphins won their second straight MECAA championship with a 4–1 league record and entered the NCAA tournament 18–3, including 3–0 against University Division opponents. However, Assumption executed a suffocating defensive effort, frustrating the Dolphins and kncoking them out of the tournament, 76–58.$^{:26}$ Le Moyne trailed by 16 at halftime and spent most of the game in foul trouble. The Dolphins' leading scorer, Gary DeYulia, scored Le Moyne's first four points on a layup and a jump shot but was shut down by the Greyhounds the rest of the way, finishing with just four points. Dan Frawley had a double-double for Le Moyne with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
In the regional third-place game, Gary DeYulia's steal and transition basket capped a run that gave the Dolphins a 53–51 lead and thrilled the crowd in the Le Moyne Athletic Center. Hartwick responded immediately with a run of their own to go ahead by 64–56. Le Moyne fought back, led by Eric Pitman and Dick Martyns and had the ball down by two points with 31 seconds to play. However, DeYulia's shot at the buzzer fell short, and the Warriors held on for a 70–68 victory.$^{:26}$ DeYulia and Tom Mullen led the Dolphins with 17 points each. Mullen also grabbed nine rebounds. Gerry Glose scored 10 points and had nine rebounds for the Dolphins.
Gary DeYulia was named a 1965 ECAC first-team All-Star. He also received honorable mention for the 1965 Little All-America team. DeYulia was also honored as first-team All-MECAA, and Tom Mullen was named to the second team. Tommy Niland won his fifth MECAA coach of the year award.
In the final of their 1965 Christmas tournament, the Dolphins met Hartwick, a team that had beaten them twice during the previous season, including a game at the Le Moyne Athletic Center in the NCAA tournament. With just 24 seconds to play, Dan Parham, who had a game-high 19 points and was named tournament MVP, was fouled with the score tied at 51. Parham missed the first free throw but made the second to give Hartwick a 52–51 lead. Gary DeYulia's shot from the left of the key was off the mark, but he snatched his own rebound near the foul line and hit a jump shot with one second on the clock to give the Dolphins a 53–52 victory. Tom Mullen led Le Moyne with 15 points, and DeYulia added 13.
For the second straight season, the Dolphins hosted NCAA tournament regional games in 1966. Le Moyne entered the tournament 14–5, including two wins against University Division opponents, but lost their first-round game to Philadelphia Textile, 83–61.$^{:26}$ Gary DeYulia led the Dolphins with 26 points. Le Moyne salvaged their consolation game against Potsdam State, 86–63.$^{:26}$ DeYulia had 25 points in the consolation game, giving him 51 for the two tournament games, and was named a Northeast Region Section B All-Star.
After the tournament, the Dolphins closed the regular-season with an 88–72 home victory over Siena to finish 16–6. Gary DeYulia had a game-high 23 points in his final collegiate contest. DeYulia finished his career with 1,212 points, second on Le Moyne' all-time scoring list.
Gary DeYulia was named 1966 MECAA player of the year. Tom Mullen was selected second-team all-MECAA. DeYulia was also named to the first-team small Catholic college all-America squad and to the small college all-America team and received honorable mention on the Little All-America squad.

#### A rebuilding year and two more NCAA tournament berths (1966–1969)

After struggling through an 11–10 season in 1966–67, the Dolphins regained their form and, led by captain Gerry McDermott, went 14–8 in 1967–68, including a trip to the NCAA tournament.
With Gerry McDermott slowed by an injury and able to play only limited minutes, Buffalo State used their size advantage to control the boards and defeat the Dolphins, 83–66, in the first round of the tournament. Le Moyne struggled throughout the game to get good looks at the basket against taller defenders. Tom Downey managed to score 13 points. John Zych was the only other Dolphin to reach double figures with 10 points. McDermott finished with eight points.$^{:27}$
Northeastern hit 23 of 34 free-throw attempts compared with only 6 for 11 by the Dolphins, and the Huskies won the consolation game of the Northeast Region's Section B, 67–54. Each team had 44 rebounds, and Le Moyne had 24 field goals, while Northeastern had only 22. However, the Dolphins were unable to defend the larger Huskies without fouling. Senior Dave Cary came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points for Le Moyne. Earl Eichelberger had 10 rebounds. Tom Downey was held to four points. Gerry McDermott exacerbated his left heel injury in the Buffalo State game and did not play.$^{:27}$
Gerry McDermott was named to the second team of the 1968 NCAA District 2 College Division All-Stars.
The Dolphins were 4–1 in MECAA play in 1968–69, and shared the conference championship with Saint Peter's.
The Dolphins were invited to the NCAA tournament in 1969, for the second straight season and fifth time in six years and selected to host the East Regional tournament games. Matt Fallis had been suffering from an ankle injury but was able to play in the Dolphins' first-round game against Montclair State and finished with 12 points. Chuck Brady had 14 points in the first half, and the Dolphins had a 43–40 lead at intermission after a back and forth opening stanza which saw each team lead by as many as seven points. The Indians opened the second half with a three-point play to tie the game at 43. With the score tied at 58, Montclair State went on a 12–2 run to take a 10-point lead as the Dolphins' shooting went cold. Le Moyne got no closer than six points down, until Brady's midcourt shot went through the hoop at the final buzzer, as the Indians held on for an 81–77 win. Brady scored a game-high 24 points.
The Dolphins jumped all over Albany State (NY) in the regional third-place game, building a 44–30 halftime lead and stretching it to a 20-point advantage early in the second half. However, the Great Danes fought back, led by Rich Margison, who scored 24 second-half points on 10-for-13 shooting. Le Moyne had a 70–66 lead in the final minute, but two baskets by Margison, the second with 20 seconds to play, tied the game at 70. A Margison free throw with three seconds left gave Albany State the win, 71–70.$^{:27}$ Bob Bradley scored 24 points for the Dolphins and was named to the East Region all-tournament team. The Dolphins finished the season 15–8. They were 13–6 against College Division opponents and 2–2 versus University Division foes.
Tom Downey was named to the 1969 All-East Region first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

### Coach Niland's final years (1969–1973)

The Dolphins' 1969–70 season featured the debut of Phil Harlow, who would later become Le Moyne's all-time career scoring leader while still a junior.
After NCAA tournament bids in each of the previous two seasons, expectations were high, and the Dolphins were ranked no. 1 among Upstate New York small college teams in pre-season polling conducted by the Upstate Sports Information Directors Council. However, after a loss at Buffalo on February 21, dropped the Dolphins to 7–10 on the season, the team needed wins in its final four games to finish with a winning record. Victories over Ithaca, Saint Michael's, Cortland State, and Siena gave the Dolphins a four-game winning streak to close the season at 11–10. It was the 12th consecutive winning season and 18th straight non-losing season for the Dolphins. However, this was the first season since the NCAA split into the University Division and the College Division in 1956, in which the Dolphins failed to earn a victory over a University Division opponent. Le Moyne was 11–6 against College Division teams and 0–4 versus University Division foes.
The Dolphins finished the 1970–71 season 9–12, their first losing record since 1951–52. Le Moyne was 1–4 against University Division opponents and 8–8 versus College Division foes.
Phil Harlow became Le Moyne's all-time leading career scorer on March 4, 1972. The Dolphins rebounded from their losing season the previous year and finished 13–10.
On November 16, 1972, Le Moyne announced that Tommy Niland would resign as head coach at the end of the 1972–73 season but would continue in his role as athletic director. Niland cited a desire to spend more time with his family as a reason for his decision. The school said a successor would be named by the end of December. On December 19, Le Moyne announced that assistant coach Tom Cooney would succeed Niland. Cooney played for three seasons on Le Moyne's varsity team and was captain as a senior during the 1963–64 season, during which the Dolphins were MECAA champions and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA College Division tournament. Prior to becoming Niland's assistant, Cooney was the head coach at St. Vincent de Paul High School in Syracuse for three seasons.
The Dolphins defeated St. Francis (NY) on February 6, 1973, improving to 9–5 overall and completing their conference slate with a perfect 5–0 record. The MECAA championship was the Dolphins' seventh league title.
Tommy Niland closed his coaching career with a 65–61 loss at archrival Siena on March 3, 1973. The Dolphins were 13–9 overall in his final season, and as of 2025, his 324 wins and seven NCAA tournament appearances both remain the most ever by a Le Moyne head coach. Phil Harlow scored 29 points in his final collegiate game to finish as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer with 1,823 points.

### Tom Cooney takes the reins (1973–1979)

Le Moyne became a Division II institution, when the College Division was split in 1973.
New head coach Tom Cooney's inaugural recruiting class included 6'5" Pete Hogan and 6'7" John Lauer, both of whom would ultimately finish their careers in the top six among Le Moyne's all-time career scorers.
Tom Cooney earned his first head coaching victory in his second game at the helm, a 76–74 upset at Potsdam State on December 4, 1973. Le Moyne used a full-court press to stage a comeback from a seven-point second-half deficit. John Ferraro, who scored 16 points to lead the Dolphins, hit a pair of free throws on a one-and-one opportunity to break a 74–74 tie with 29 seconds remaining and provide the winning margin.
Senior co-captain Rick May became the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and also became the first Le Moyne player to record 1,000 career rebounds during the 1973–74 season.
The Dolphins finished the 1973–74 season 14–10, on a four-game winning streak and with victories in seven of their final eight games. The Dolphins were 4–5 against teams that secured bids to the 1974 NCAA Division II tournament and 2–2 versus Division I foes.
After starting the 1974–75 season 0–4 and 3–8, the Dolphins rebounded to finish 14–11 and earned three victories over Division I opponents.
Jene Grey, who would finish his career as Le Moyne's second leading career scorer and rebounder, made his collegiate debut in the 1975–76 season. The Dolphins started the campaign 0–4, before defeating Cortland State in December. Le Moyne did not win a road game until February, starting the season 0–7, and Cortland State was the Dolphins' victim again.
Despite the troubling start to the season, the Dolphins earned a home win against Gannon, ranked no. 4 in the NCAA Division II poll$^{:23}$ and defeated Division I Iona, their 60th all-time victory over a Division I/major program.
Junior Pete Hogan became the 10th Le Moyne player to surpass 1,000 career points during the 1975–76 season.
The Dolphins won their season finale, 81–77, over Siena on March 4, 1976, to even their record at 12–12. John Lauer had a double-double for the Le Moyne and became the 11th player in program history to score 1,000 career points. This was Siena's final game as a Division II program. The Indians' move to Division I for the 1976–77 season meant Le Moyne would not play their long-time archrival again until December 1987.
John Lauer was named to the 1976 ECAC Division II all-conference team. Dolphins freshman Jene Grey received honorable mention. Lauer was also named second-team Division II All-New York State.
New rules that were effective for the 1976–77 season required Division I teams to schedule at least 75% of their games against Division I opponents. As Division I teams, it became impractical for St. Francis (NY) and Siena to remain in the MECAA. Also effective for the 1976–77 season was a rule requiring conferences that were members of the NCAA to either have all their members be part of the same NCAA division or to divide the conference in a manner to separate conference members by NCAA division. The remaining members of the MECAA were three Division II teams and one Division III team. Therefore, the MECAA was dissolved, and Le Moyne began competing as an independent. The Dolphins won seven MECAA championships in their 21 seasons in the league.
Despite Siena's move to Division I, there were plans for Siena to play at Le Moyne on January 15, 1977, and for the Dolphins to continue their series with their archrivals, reduced to one game per season. However, Siena notified Le Moyne in September 1976, that it would be unable to keep its commitment for that date. Le Moyne had no open dates on which a game with Siena could be scheduled. As a result, the two teams did not meet during the 1976–77 season, ending their annual series which started with the first varsity game Le Moyne played on December 7, 1948.
John Lauer, Pete Hogan and Jene Grey all missed time during the 1976–77 season due to injuries or illness. Nevertheless, the Dolphins went 4–0 against Division I opponents. The Dolphins were 12–6 in mid February and on the short list of teams under consideration for an NCAA tournament berth.
The Dolphins suffered a crushing loss at Buffalo State on February 19, that appeared to dash their hopes for an NCAA tournament bid. In contrast to the Dolphins' glittering results against Division I opponents, the loss dropped Le Moyne to 2–5 versus Division II foes with just three games remaining on their schedule, one at Division I Iona and two against Division III teams. The Dolphins' overall record stood at 13–7, and Le Moyne was running out of opportunities to impress the NCAA tournament selectors.
The Dolphins' originally scheduled game at Iona was cancelled, in order for the Gaels to comply with the maximum game limit required to be eligible for the ECAC Metro tournament. Since the NCAA tournament selectors anticipated making a final decision on February 27, and the Dolphins would not play again until March 1, their 14–7 record would be the basis on which their fate rested.
The Dolphins were not selected to play in the 1977 NCAA tournament, much to the dismay of athletic director Tommy Niland who noted that Le Moyne had embarrassed one the teams that received a bid, alluding to Le Moyne's 11-point victory over Assumption. Niland also indicated that he believed the selection committee had failed to choose the 32 best Division II teams in the country. Instead, regional selectors protected teams within their region, resulting in teams with as many as 11 losses getting invitations.
The Dolphins won their season finale, 79–56, over Alfred on senior night at the Henninger Athletic Center. All five graduating seniors from head coach Tom Cooney's first recruiting class started the game for Le Moyne. John Lauer scored a game-high 19 points and finished his collegiate career fourth on Le Moyne's all-time scoring list. Pete Hogan had 10 points and finished as the sixth-highest scorer in Dolphins history. The Dolphins finished the 1976–77 season 15–7 and a perfect 11–0 at home. Six of Le Moyne's seven road losses, one of which was decided in overtime, were by five points or fewer. The only loss the Dolphins suffered by more than five points was a 13-point setback at Hartwick, which were ranked no. 8 in the NCAA Division II poll at the time.
After dropping their season opener at Boston College, the Dolphins turned their attention to their first-ever meeting with Syracuse, their neighbor only four miles away, who were ranked no. 12 in the AP Division I poll on December 2, 1977. The schools had a three-year agreement to meet annually. Syracuse used their size and quickness advantages to defeat Le Moyne, 90–62. Jene Grey scored 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Dolphins.
The Dolphins' record reached its peak at 12–9 following a season-high five-game winning streak, but they lost four of their final five contests to finish the 1977–78 season 13–13. Jene Grey ranked 21st in Division II in scoring average and seventh in rebounds per game for the season.
With the Dolphins' record at 10–7 on February 11, 1979, head coach Tom Cooney informed his players that he was resigning effective at the end of the season. Cooney cited a desire to spend more time with his family and his dislike for recruiting and the travel associated with it.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Dolphins entered their February 20, 1979 game at Hartwick, ranked no. 8 in the Division II poll,$^{:26}$ with a résumé that included a 12–7 record and a home win over Hartwick earlier in the season. With five games remaining on Le Moyne's schedule, this matchup with a ranked opponent represented a precious opportunity to impress NCAA tournament selectors. However, a 14–0 second-half Hartwick run put the game away for the Warriors. Jene Grey scored 27 points to lead the Dolphins. Despite the loss, Le Moyne remained under consideration for a tournament bid.
The Dolphins' final home game of the 1978–79 season was played on February 26, at the Onondaga County War Memorial against Syracuse, ranked no. 6 in the AP Division I poll. After Le Moyne took an early 6–0 lead, the Orangemen surged and took control of the game, defeating the Dolphins, 92–60. Jene Grey had a game-high 28 points for Le Moyne, who fell to 14–9. During halftime, Le Moyne athletic director Tommy Niland announced that Mike Lee would take over as the Dolphins' head coach at the conclusion of the season.
The NCAA tournament selectors filled the final spots in the bracket on February 27, and the Dolphins did not receive a berth. The Dolphins lost their season finale, finishing 14–10. Jene Grey had game highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds to finish with career totals of 1,729 points and 969 rebounds, both second in program history. Tom Cooney finished his head coaching career 82–63.

### An Orangeman leads the Green and Gold (1979–1983)

Mike Lee, a former three-year starter and captain of the Syracuse Orangemen, led the Dolphins to their worst record in program history at 6–19 in 1979–80, his first season as head coach. Le Moyne followed up with an even worse record at 5–21 the following season.
Mike Lee's Dolphins improved in his third and fourth seasons, and he led Le Moyne to a winning record in his final campaign. Players recruited by Lee, including Wright Lassiter, Paul Galvin and Bobby Chestnut, would go on to play key roles on more successful Dolphin teams after Lee's departure.
Mike McDermott scored 24 points to become the 14th player in program history to score 1,000 points for his career in the Dolphins' 69–68 home loss against Bloomsburg State, ranked no. 11 in the Division II poll at the time,$^{:29}$ on February 10, 1982.

### John Beilein era (1983–1992)
#### Building a tournament team (1983–1988)

The Dolphins joined the Mideast Collegiate Conference (MECC) in John Beilein's first season and went undefeated in league play to win the conference regular-season championship. However, Le Moyne lost their MECC tournament semifinal game and were not selected for an at-large bid to the 1984 NCAA tournament. The 1983–84 season marked the first time in program history that the Dolphins won 20 games.
Scott Hicks and Pete Jerebko, both of whom would become Le Moyne Hall of Famers, arrived as freshmen in 1984. Despite a solid 19-win campaign in 1984–85, the Dolphins failed to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. Wright Lassiter had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Dolphins and passed the 1,000 career points mark in Le Moyne's 78–75 double overtime loss to Philadelphia Textile on January 11, 1985. Bobby Chestnut scored 10 points to join Lassier in the 1,000-point club in the Dolphins' 74–62 loss at C.W. Post on January 27. Lassiter and Chestnut were named second-team All-MECC for the 1984–85 season. Lassiter was the league's leading rebounder at 9.7 per game. Pete Jerebko was named the MECC's all-freshmen team. He was second in the conference in field-goal percentage at 61.9%, trailing teammate James Henderson, who hit at a 62.1% clip.
After a losing season marred by injuries, illness and suspensions, despite James Henderson reaching 1,000 career points and Pete Jerebko and Walter Hill being named 1986 second-team MECC All-Stars, Le Moyne bounced back with their second 20-win season in 1986–87. However, after falling in the MECC tournament, Le Moyne was not selected for an at-large bid to the 1987 NCAA tournament. Hill and Scott Hicks were named 1987 first-team all-MECC. James Henderson was named to the second team. Jerebko scored 14 points and became the 20th player in program history with 1,000 career points in the Dolphins' 97–82 loss at St. Michael's on February 7, 1987.
Len Rauch, who would go on to finish his college career as Le Moyne's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, arrived for his freshmen season in 1987. Scott Hicks, Pete Jerebko and Rauch led the Dolphins to the regular-season co-championship of the MECC, the conference tournament title and a berth in the 1988 NCAA tournament.
After more than 11 years since the last meeting between the teams, the Dolphins renewed their rivalry with Division I Siena on December 5, 1987. The Indians raced to an early 12-point lead, but Le Moyne responded with a run to tie the game with a minute to play before the break. Siena scored six points in the final minute of the half to take a 45–39 lead at intermission. The Dolphins remained within striking distance and had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but Pete Jerebko's three-point attempt was off the mark, and Le Moyne suffered a difficult road loss, 75–70. Freshman Len Rauch led the Dolphins with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Scott Hicks scored 12 points for Le Moyne, surpassing 1,000 points for his career.
Following a 78–71 road win at Philadelphia Textile, which improved the Dolphins' record to 17–4 overall and 6–1 in MECC play, Le Moyne was ranked no. 16 in the NCAA Division II poll on February 15, 1988.$^{:35}$ It was the Dolphins' first appearance in a major poll since finishing the 1964–65 season no. 14 in the United Press International (UPI) small college coaches' poll.$^{:328}$
The Dolphins lost in the first round of the 1988 NCAA tournament to California (PA) but rebounded to defeat Kutztown in the regional third-place game.
The team's 24 wins in 1987–88 were the most in program history up to that point. John Beilein was named 1988 MECC coach of the year. Pete Jerebko was selected as MECC player of the year and senior of the year. Len Rauch was MECC freshman of the year. Scott Hicks joined Jerebko on all-MECC first team. Rauch was second-team all-MECC. The 1987–88 Dolphins were inducted into the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame as a team in 2017.

#### Sustained winning and Len Rauch (1988–1992)

On December 3, 1988, Siena visited Le Moyne for the first time since March 4, 1976. Despite a 26-point and 13-rebound performance by Len Rauch, Siena overwhelmed the Dolphins, 91–52.
Len Rauch had a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the Dolphins' 96–80 home romp over Adelphi on January 27, 1989.
The Dolphins' man-to-man defense generated transition opportunities, and Le Moyne claimed a 26–12 lead midway through the first half of their January 31 home game against Gannon, ranked no. 12 in Division II.$^{:36}$ The Golden Knights used their size advantage to cut Le Moyne's lead to four points in the second half, but the Dolphins responded with an 18–9 run that put them ahead, 66–53, with 8:35 to play. Le Moyne stopped driving to the basket and tried to milk the clock, but the Dolphins went cold from the perimeter. They had only one field goal over the final 5:45 of the game. That basket was scored by Russell Barnes with 15 seconds remaining and gave the Dolphins an 85–79 lead, icing the game. Barnes and Len Rauch each had a double-double for Le Moyne. Barnes finished with 10 points and 10 assists. Rauch scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Julius Edwards guarded Gannon's leading scorer, Chris Hollan, holding him to just 5-for-12 shooting from the floor, and scored 25 points to lead the Dolphins.
After 18 straight losses versus Division I opponents, a streak that began in 1977, Le Moyne got 22 points from Andy Bechtle and overcame a five-point deficit with just over 10 minutes to play to defeat Army, 77–70, on February 7, 1989, at West Point. The win was Le Moyne's 65th all-time over a Division I/major program, and it would ultimately prove to be the final time Le Moyne defeated a Division I team as a Division II program.
Len Rauch had a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Dolphins to their fifth straight win, 94–73, over Buffalo on February 22. Seniors Dave Niland and Steve Lauer left the floor in their final regular-season home game to a rousing ovation with 57 seconds remaining.
The Dolphins were dominated in their 1989 MECC quarterfinal game at Pace, losing 79–61 on March 4. Andy Bechtle scored 13 points to lead Le Moyne. The Dolphins finished the season 15–12.
Len Rauch was named 1989 MECC sophomore of the year. Rauch was also named to the Division II All-East team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The 1989–90 season was the last under the leadership of Tommy Niland, Le Moyne's athletic director since 1947, and the head basketball coach for the program's first 25 varsity seasons. In January 1990, long-time Le Moyne baseball coach Dick Rockwell was chosen as Niland's successor.
Russell Barnes scored 15 points, reaching 1,000 for his collegiate career, in the Dolphins' 97–83 home victory over Saint Rose on February 21, 1990. Le Moyne stars Len Rauch, the team's leading scorer, and Julius Edwards were suspended by head coach John Beilein for disciplinary reasons. Freshman John Haas started in place of Edwards and responded with 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the floor, including 2 for 3 from three-point range, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot in his first collegiate start.
The Dolphins got 30 points from Tom Herhusky and defeated Mercyhurst, 81–67, on February 24. Len Rauch and Julius Edwards returned to the lineup after being suspended for the previous game. Rauch started at center, and Edwards came off the bench with John Haas starting at shooting guard. Haas scored four points, and Edwards had eight. Rauch scored only six points but had eight rebounds and nine assists.
The Dolphins fell behind by five points with 4:16 to play in their MECC semifinal game at Gannon on March 9, 1990, on an off-balance three-pointer by Chris Hollan with one second left on the shot clock and were unable to recover, falling, 55–53. Len Rauch scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Le Moyne, and Tom Herhusky added 16 points. The Dolphins also lost the tournament third-place game and finished their season 17–12.
Len Rauch was named 1990 first-team All-MECC, and Tom Herhusky was named to the second team.
Tom Herhusky scored 23 points to lead the Dolphins to a 105–81 victory over St. Lawrence on February 12, 1991. With 1:47 remaining in the first half, Len Rauch grabbed the 1,029th carom of his career and became Le Moyne's all-time leading career rebouder. The action was halted momentarily as Rauch held the game ball and posed for a photo with Dolphins head coach John Beilein. Rauch finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Len Rauch had a triple-double with 22 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Dolphins to a 95–71 victory over Mercyhurst in their regular-season home finale on February 23, 1991.
Len Rauch became Le Moyne's all-time leading career scorer, and the Dolphins clinched the no. 3 seed in their conference tournament and home-court advantage for their MECC quarterfinal game with an 80–65 victory at Buffalo on March 2, 1991. Tom Herhusky scored 30 points to lead Le Moyne. Rauch finished with 25 points to bring his career total to 1,826. The Dolphins held the Bulls scoreless for three minutes late in the second half to break open a close game.
Tom Herhusky scored 20 points, and Len Rauch had a double-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, as the Dolphins cruised to an 86–58 victory over Mercyhurst in the MECC quarterfinals on March 5, 1991. Christian Buchholz added 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals for Le Moyne. Rauch passed the 500-career-assist threshold in the contest.
The Dolphins could not overcome a six-minute scoreless stretch in the first half and fell to Pace, 87–68, in the MECC semifinals on March 8, 1991. John Haas scored 17 points to lead Le Moyne, and Len Rauch finished with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Dolphins completed their season the following day with an 86–84 overtime loss to Gannon in the tournament consolation game. Haas was named to the all-tournament team. Le Moyne finished the season 19–10.
Len Rauch was named third-team Division II All-America, the first player in program history to be named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and All-East District II second team. Rauch was also 1991 MECC player of the year and first-team All-MECC. Joe Girard was MECC rookie of the year. Tom Herhusky was second-team All-MECC.
Future Le Moyne Athletic Hall of Famer Mike Montesano, a 6'3" guard from McQuaid Jesuit High School, who was seventh-team All-New York State and averaged 19 points, five rebounds and seven assists arrived on campus in 1991.
Following the dissolution of the MECC, the Dolphins played the 1991–92 season as an independent and committed to join the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in 1992.
Once it was clear that Le Moyne was out of contention for an NCAA tournament berth, head coach John Beilein gave more playing time to his younger players, and senior co-captain Tom Herhusky lost his starting role. The lineup adjustment proved successful, and the Dolphins closed their season on February 29, 1992, with a 66–64 home victory over Mercyhurst, their seventh consecutive win. After the Lakers went on a late 8–0 run to take a 64–61 lead, Herhusky, who had 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting in his final collegiate game, tied the contest with a three-pointer. Mercyhurst's next possession produced a pair of missed free throws, and John Haas, who finished with 10 points, hit a driving layup at the buzzer to win the game for Le Moyne. Dan Sandel had seven points and 17 rebounds for the Dolphins, who finished the season 15–11.
Mike Montesano was named 1992 ECAC Division II co-rookie of the year.
On April 9, 1992, John Beilein stepped down as head coach of the Dolphins to take the same position at Canisius, a team he had followed as a child. In nine years at Le Moyne, Beilein finished 163–94. His .634 winning percentage was the best for any Dolphins head coach up to that point.

### Hicks is first Dolphin to play and coach in NCAA tournament (1992–1997)

Le Moyne hired Scott Hicks, who played for the Dolphins from 1984 to 1988, under former coach John Beilein, as their new head coach on May 22, 1992. Hicks had been co-captain of the Dolphins team that reached the NCAA tournament in the 1987–88 season. After graduating from Le Moyne, Hicks worked as an assistant coach at Hamilton for two years before moving on to Syracuse, where he worked for Jim Boeheim for two more years. Hicks was 26 years old at the time, and Le Moyne's search committee members believed that his age was an advantage, because he could relate well to athletes trying to excel academically. Hicks was the youngest men's basketball head coach across the NCAA's three divisions during the 1992–93 season. Le Moyne received more than 70 applications from those interested in filling the coaching vacancy.
Practices for the 1992–93 season commenced on November 1. The Dolphins lost Tom Herhusky, a reliable scorer, and Bob Piddock to graduation in 1992. Four regular starters from the previous campaign returned: seniors Christian Buchholz and John Haas, junior Joe Girard and sophomore Mike Montesano. Also returning were juniors Dan Sandel, who started several games late in the 1991–92 season, and Andre Dearing and sophomores Bob McFadden, Karl Radday and Jim Brindle. A pair of freshmen recruited by former head coach John Beilein were added to the team. Dan Drews, a 6'8" center played for New York State Section 5 Class B champion Palmyra-Macedon High School. Adam Stockwell, a 6'3" guard from Belleville-Henderson High School, was the only high school player in New York state to reach 2,000 career points in 1992. The first recruit for new head coach Scott Hicks was Martin Janson, a 6'10" sophomore transfer center from Sweden. Due to the Division I age limit of 24 years old, Janson had only one year of eligibility in Division I. However, he had three years of eligibility in Division II, and Hicks was able to sign the 23-year-old. Janson had represented Sweden in international youth competition and had hopes of making the senior team. Walk-on freshmen Joe Stickle and Mike Cassella were also added to the team. Buchholz and Haas were named co-captains.
After playing the 1991–92 season as an independent, Le Moyne joined the NECC in 1992.
Chris Granozio and Don Familo, both 1986 Le Moyne graduates, replaced Peter Stoyan, who moved to Florida, calling Dolphins games on the radio in 1992. Granozio handled play-by-play, and Familo provided the color on WVOA-FM.
The Dolphins erased an early second-half nine-point deficit with a 17–2 run and cruised to a 92–76 victory over Saint Michael's at home on November 28, 1992. Mike Montesano scored 30 points to lead Le Moyne. Dan Sandel had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Senior point guard John Haas scored 20 points, pulled down nine rebounds and dished out seven assists.
Dan Sandel sprained his medial collateral ligament early in the second half of the Dolphins' 65–63 win at Pace on December 6, and was expected to miss several weeks. A pair of free throws by Adam Stockwell with eight seconds to play secured the win for Le Moyne, which improved to 3–0 on the season. While Sandel was unavailable, Stockwell was expected to start for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins hosted the opening round of the Coca-Cola Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic on December 11, and defeated Hilbert, 84–51. Mike Montesano scored 15 points to lead Le Moyne. The following evening, Montesano scored 23 points to lead five Dolphins in double figures as Le Moyne captured the tournament title with a 90–75 victory over Pitt-Johnstown. Martin Janson had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Dolphins. Montesano was named the tournament's most valuable player. Christian Buchholz had 11 points in the title game and joined Montesano on the all-tournament team. Le Moyne improved to 5–0 on the season.
The Dolphins ventured a bit more than three miles to take on Division I Syracuse, ranked no. 13 in the AP poll, in a battle of unbeatens on December 21. Syracuse paid Le Moyne about $15,000, which represented 40% of the basketball budget for the season. The Dolphins started the game strong and led, 11–10, with 14:37 left in the first half, before the Orangemen went on an 18–3 run. Le Moyne recovered to pull within 10 points with five minutes to play in the half, but Syracuse responded with a 17–2 run and led, 51–27, at intermission. The Dolphins' shooting heated up, and they outscored the Orangemen, 25–23, over the first 11+1⁄2 minutes of the second half, but Syracuse controlled the final eight minutes and cruised to a 102–71 win. Point guard John Haas finished with 14 points, seven assists and three steals for Le Moyne. Center Martin Janson led the Dolphins with 17 points and eight rebounds. Lawrence Moten led the Orangemen with 16 points and 12 rebounds, including nine off the offensive boards. John Wallace added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Hopkins finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for Syracuse.
John Haas and Martin Janson each scored 15 points in the Dolphins' 83–56 loss at Division I Siena on December 28. After the Saints controlled the game most of the way, Janson's offensive reboound and three-point play pulled the Dolphins within a point with 12:44 to play, but Siena went on a 27–5 run over the next nine minutes to put the game away. Janson grabbed 12 rebounds, and Haas added four assists for Le Moyne, which dropped to 5–2 on the season. For his efforts against Syracuse and Siena, Janson was named NECC rookie of the week.
The Dolphins played their first NECC game at Keene State on January 5, 1993. Mike Montesano scored 30 points and shot 6 for 9 from three-point range to lead Le Moyne to an 84–71 win. Dan Sandel returned to the lineup and scored eight points.
The following evening, the Dolphins visited Franklin Pierce, ranked no. 2 in the NCAA Division II poll.$^{:40}$ Le Moyne closed the first half on a 22–10 run and had a 37–31 lead at the break. A 10-foot jump shot by Martin Janson, who finished with eight points, gave the Dolphins a 43–35 lead with 15:44 to play. However, the Ravens responded with a 12–0 run that gave them the lead for good, and Franklin Pierce cruised to a 76–69 victory. Dan Sandel scored 16 points to lead Le Moyne. Janson and Sandel grabbed six rebounds each. John Haas scored 13 points and had nine assists for the Dolphins.
Martin Janson repeated as NECC rookie of the week and was also named ECAC Division II rookie of the week on January 18.
The Dolphins had a brief two-game homestand over three days and welcomed a pair of ranked teams. Franklin Pierce, ranked no. 4 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:40}$ claimed a 9–2 lead over Le Moyne in the first three minutes of the game on January 30. The Dolphins battled back, and Adam Stockwell's jump shot over 6'8" Jason Miglionico cut the Ravens' lead to 52–50 with 11:32 to play. However, Franklin Pierce hit a three-pointer on their next possession. After a shoving match between Le Moyne's John Haas and the Ravens' Larry Wynn expanded to involve several Franklin Pierce players, Miglionico was ejected for leaving the bench and joining the fracas. Mike Montesano hit a pair of technical free throws, and the Ravens' lead was 58–54 with 9:51 left. However, Franklin Pierce scored the game's next five points and pulled away from there for a 79–66 victory. The Ravens' defense forced 20 turnovers, and Le Moyne managed only nine assists. Haas scored 18 points to lead the Dolphins. Dan Sandel and Martin Janson each had a double-double for Le Moyne. Sandel had 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, and Janson scored 10 points, grabbed 10 boards and blocked two shots.
New Hampshire College, ranked no. 11 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:40}$ built a 13-point lead on February 1, but the Dolphins fought back and tied the score at 60 with seven minutes to play on a three-pointer by freshman Adam Stockwell. After a John Haas bank shot gave the Dolphins their first lead at 65–63 with 3:50 on the clock, the Penmen scored the next five points to take a 68–65 lead with two minutes remaining. The Dolphins had possession in the closing seconds, trailing, 68–67. However, a short jump shot by Christian Buchholz was off the mark and rebounded by New Hampshire College, which held on for the win. Stockwell scored 22 points off the bench to lead Le Moyne. Dan Sandel scored 20 points, snatched six rebounds and neutralized Wayne Robertson, the New Hampshire College center, who came into the game averaging 20.5 points and 14.7 rebounds per contest. Robertson finished with only six points and five rebounds. The loss was the Dolphins' fourth straight, dropping them to 9–8 overall and 3–6 in NECC play.
John Haas became the 22nd Dolphin to reach 1,000 career points in Le Moyne's 100–75 win at Division III Mount Saint Mary (NY) on February 9. Christian Buchholz scored 16 points to lead Le Moyne, which improved to 11–9 on the season.
John Haas recorded his 500th career assist in the Dolphins' 109–93 home victory over New Haven on February 13. Le Moyne shot 61% from the floor in the first half and led, 51–27, at the break. The Dolphins set new program records in the game for free throws made and attempted, going 42 for 50 from the line. The Chargers had embarked on their road trip to Le Moyne for the Saturday evening game at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. However, a series of mechanical failures involving three different buses resulted in the Chargers arriving at 2 a.m. Saturday morning. To make matters worse, New Haven took a bus from their hotel to the Henninger Athletic Center for a morning shoot-around, but the bus driver misunderstood the instructions and left after dropping them off. The players were stuck waiting at the gym for five hours. Nevertheless, Chargers head coach Stu Grove made no excuses, crediting the Dolphins for their stellar play. Mike Montesano scored 25 points to lead Le Moyne. Haas finished with 18 points and seven assists. Dan Sandel had a double-double for the Dolphins with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Le Moyne improved to 12–9 overall and 4–7 in NECC play with their second straight win.
Trailing by 12 points with 7:30 to play in the first half of a February 17 home game against Gannon, ranked no. 20 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:40}$ Dolphins head coach Scott Hicks switched from a man-to-man defense to a trapping one and inserted Joe Girard into the game. Le Moyne went on a 14–2 run and tied the game just over three minutes later. Girard was 3 for 4 from three-point range during the run. The Golden Knights regained their composure, and the game was close the rest of the way. With the score tied at 53, Mike Montensano's triple put the Dolphins in front for good with 4:39 to play. Gannon got within a point in the final minute, but Le Moyne's solid free-throw shooting allowed them to hold on for a 68–63 victory. Montesano scored 16 points to lead the Dolphins and was 4 for 4 from the charity stripe in the final 23 seconds. Le Moyne's fourth straight win improved their record to 14–9.
Trailing by five points with 1:20 to play, the Dolphins got a baseline jumper from Mike Montesano, which he followed up with a three-pointer with 48 seconds left to tie the score at 70 in their February 20 game at New Hampshire College, ranked no. 6 in the NCAA Division II poll.$^{:40}$ Montesano hit another triple in overtime that put Le Moyne ahead for good, 75–73, and the Dolphins defeated the Penmen, 78–75. Montesano finished with a career-high 31 points. This was Le Moyne's second straight win over a ranked Division II opponent and fifth straight victory overall, and it was the only regular-season loss New Hampshire College suffered in NECC play this season. The Dolphins improved to 15–9 overall and 5–7 in NECC play, keeping Le Moyne's hopes of hosting a NECC tournament quarterfinal game alive.
After another win at Massachusetts Lowell on February 21, the Dolphins put themselves in position to earn a home game in the NECC tournament quarterfinals with a win in their regular-season finale, a home tilt against Southern Connecticut State. Trailing the Owls by three points at halftime, Le Moyne opened the second half with a 17–0 run and then extended the run to 34–10 to take a 21-point lead with less than 10 minutes to play on their way to an 80–70 victory over Southern Connecticut. The Dolphins, picked seventh in the pre-season NECC coaches poll, secured the third seed in the NECC tournament and home-court advantage for the tournament quarterfinals with the win, their seventh straight. Joe Girard and Christian Buchholz each scored 19 points to lead Le Moyne, and Buchholz passed 1,000 points for his career. Dan Sandel had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Dolphins, who improved to 17–9 overall and 7–7 in NECC play.
The Dolphins hosted no. 6 seed Sacred Heart in a NECC quarterfinal game on March 2. The Dolphins were nursing a two-point lead, when Mike Montesano's three-pointer sparked a 37–21 run over the final 15 minutes of the game that gave Le Moyne a 101–83 victory. Montesano scored 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting to lead the Dolphins and added fives assists and three steals. John Haas and Dan Sandel each had a double-double for Le Moyne. Haas had 15 points and 11 assists, and Sandel finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Haas was the primary defender on Pioneers senior guard Darrin Robinson, who was held to a game-high 24 points on 10-for-32 shooting. Robinson entered the game averaging 32.3 points per contest and shooting 50% from the floor for the season. Martin Janson added 18 points, and Christian Buchholz finished with 14 points for the Dolphins.
Top-seeded New Hampshire College hosted the NECC semifinals, and the Dolphins were matched with no. 2 seed Franklin Pierce, ranked no. 16 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:40}$ The Dolphins' late 9–0 run flipped a three-point deficit to a 69–63 lead. After the teams exchanged four points each, Le Moyne was ahead, 73–67, with 1:22 to play. However, the Ravens took control from there, ending the game on an 8–0 run for a 75–73 victory. Andre Dearing fired a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer, but it missed to the left. The loss ended the Dolphins' eight-game winning streak as well as their season. John Haas had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists to lead Le Moyne, which finished the season 18–10.
Mike Montesano was named second-team All-NECC. Dan Sandel finished 11th in rebounding in Division II for the season with an average of 10.5 per game. The Dolphins were second in free-throw shooting in Division II, connecting on 75.6% of their charity tosses.
The Dolphins lost John Haas and Christian Buchholz to graduation in 1993. Seniors Joe Girard, Dan Sandel and Andre Dearing, juniors Mike Montesano, Bob McFadden and Karl Radday and sophomores Adam Stockwell, Dan Drews and Joe Stickle all returned for the 1993–94 season. Martin Janson, who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds the previous season, played for Sweden's national team in EuroBasket and then represented his country at the World University Games over the summer. He left Le Moyne and had plans to play professionally in Europe in the fall. Freshman John Henches, a 6'8" center from Shenendehowa High School was new to the team. Also added were freshmen Bob Kawa Jr., a 5'10" guard, Rob Atene, a 6'1" guard, and 6'2" forward Bryan Menar. Kawa was a walk-on who played at Christian Brothers Academy and the son of Bob Kawa, who played for the Dolphins from 1970 to 1973, and served as an assistant coach from 1976 to 1980, and for the 1982–83 season. Girard and Sandel were named co-captains. Le Moyne hired Chris Downs and Daryl Crist as assistant coaches. Crist completed his paying career at Seton Hall the previous season. Downs was only a year removed from playing at Oneonta. Head coach Scott Hicks, who also held the distinction the previous season, remained the youngest men's basketball mentor across all three NCAA divisions.
A cloud of uncertaintly hung over the Dolphins as the season was about to begin. Le Moyne announced that six unnamed male athletes would be suspended from competition for gambling on major college sporting events. The identity of the student-athletes involved remained confidential; before the start of the season, even head coach Scott Hicks was not told whether any of his players were involved. Le Moyne conducted its own investigation and determined the length of each suspension based on the extent of the student-athlete's involvement in gambling activities. Dr. Michael W. Yost, Le Moyne's vice president for student life, said that, while the conduct was disappointing, the cooperation of the students was outstanding. In addition to the suspensions, the student-athletes would participate in educational activities and receive counseling. Since NCAA rules require that student-athletes who gamble on major college sports automatically lose their athletic eligibility, Le Moyne had to apply for reinstatement of the six athletes. The NCAA approved Le Moyne's remediation plan and granted reinstatement to all six.
The Dolphins opened their season at Saint Rose on November 19, and made the trip without Mike Montesano and Adam Stockwell. Head coach Scott Hicks would say nothing more than that they were suspended for violating team policy, but it appeared likely that Montesano and Stockwell were two of the six student-athletes suspended for gambling. Joe Girard scored 21 points to lead Le Moyne in a 65–63 defeat.
After starting the season with three road losses, the Dolphins hosted Roberts Wesleyan on November 29, and fell behind 13–2 and 18–6. Dan Sandel then dominated the paint on the offensive end, scoring 20 first-half points, as Le Moyne finished the half on a 33–12 run to take a nine-point lead at the break. Andre Dearing carried the load in the second half, scoring 17 points after intermission. Sandel finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Dearing also scored 30 points and had five steals. Freshman Rob Atene scored three points and had seven assists for Le Moyne. Mike Montesano and Adam Stockwell remained suspended for violating team rules.
The Dolphins hosted Mount Saint Mary (NY) in the opening round of their Coca-Cola Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic on December 10. After claiming a 14-point lead at imtermission, a 16–7 Le Moyne run to open the second half put the game away, and the Dolphins won, 97–56. Dan Sandel scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Le Moyne, which had six players score in double figures. Andre Dearing scored 16 points and had team-highs of seven assists and five steals for the Dolphins. Mike Montesano remained suspended for violating team rules. Adam Stockwell's suspension ended after the season's first four games, but he and Bryan Menar each missed their second straight contest. Both were suffering from mononucleosis.
The following evening, Dan Sandel scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, leading the Dolphins to a 90–81 victory over Mercyhurst in the tournament final. Rob Atene scored eight points and had seven assists for Le Moyne. Sandel was the tournament's most valuable player and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Andre Dearing and Joe Girard. The Dolphins continued playing without Mike Montesano, Adam Stockwell and Bryan Menar. Sandel was named NECC player of the week and made the ECAC honor roll on December 13.
After serving a four-game suspension and missing three more contests with mononucleosis, Adam Stockwell returned to the lineup in the Dolphins' wire-to-wire 79–63 win at Keene State on January 4, 1994. Dan Sandel scored 22 points and snatched 12 rebounds to lead Le Moyne. Stockwell finished with 11 points. The Dolphins improved to 4–4 overall and 1–0 in NECC play.
Mike Montesano made his season debut after serving an eight-game suspension in the Dolphins' 68–65 loss at Franklin Pierce on January 5. Dan Sandel scored a game-high 19 points for Le Moyne. Montesano finished with six points.
Dan Sandel was named NECC co-player fo the week on January 10, after averaging 19.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game and shooting 64% from the field in three games.
The Dolphins recorded an impressive home win over New Hampshire College, ranked no. 8 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:41}$ on January 12. After falling behind, 9–2, Le Moyne went on an 18–4 run over six minutes to take a seven-point lead. After the Penmen cut the lead to 27–26, Bob McFadden and Mike Montesano answered with a pair of jump shots. New Hampshire College scored the first six points of the second half to cut the Dolphins' lead to 45–44. Le Moyne responded with a 10–2 run, highlighted by Andre Dearing's steal and length-of-the-floor drive for a basket. The Dolphins controlled the rest of the game, winning, 94–85. Dan Sandel had a double-double for the 10th straight game with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Dearing had six points and eight assist for Le Moyne. The win was the Dolphins' third straight and sixth in their last seven games, improving their record to 7–5 overall and 4–1 in NECC play.
Bryan Menar, who had missed 11 games and was still ill with mononucleosis, applied for a medical redshirt in January 1994.
Dan Sandel was named ECAC and NECC player of the week on January 17. He averaged 22.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game and shot 71% from the floor.
The Dolphins entered their January 22 game at Southern Connecticut on a five-game winning streak, winners of eight of their previous nine games and in first place in the NECC. Dan Sandel's dunk gave Le Moyne a 66–51 lead with 8:33 to play. However, the Owls closed the game on a 22–6 run and won the game, 73–72, on a six-foot jump shot by Cedric Pitt from the lane at the buzzer. The Dolphins shot an abysmal 5 for 19 from the free-throw line, including 2 for 7 over the final five minutes. Mike Montesano scored 20 points to lead Le Moyne. Sandel had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, after his double-double streak had been stopped at 10 straight games in the Dolphins' previous contest. Andre Dearing had 11 points and five assists. Le Moyne fell to 9–6 overall and 6–2 in NECC play.
Senior Joe Girard became the 24th player in Le Moyne program history to score 1,000 career points in the Dolphins' 92–71 home win over St. Lawrence on February 2. Girard finished with 12 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the floor; all his field-goal attempts were three-point shots. Dan Drews set a Division II record with his 18th consecutive three-pointer without a miss. Drews finally missed with about five minutes to play. Drews finished with 18 points to lead Le Moyne. Dan Sandel scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Dolphins, and Rob Atene had two points and seven assists. Le Moyne improved to 12–6 with the win, their third straight and 11th in their last 13 games.
Senior Dan Sandel passed the 1,000 career points mark in the Dolphins' 86–80 victory at Sacred Heart on February 6. Trailing by five points early in the second half, the Dolphins went on an 18–5 run to take a 51–43 lead with 11:55 to play. Le Moyne shot 9 for 9 from the free throw line over the last 1:16 of the game to repel the Pioneers' comeback attempt. Andre Dearing led the Dolphins with 21 point and four assists. Sandel had a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Le Moyne improved to 13–7 overall and 9–3 in the NECC.
Dan Sandel scored 30 points on 14-for-18 shooting from the floor and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Dolphins to an 86–73 home win over Hilbert on February 10. Rob Atene scored two points and dished out six assists for Le Moyne.
Junior Mike Montesano scored 24 points and became the third Dolphin this season to surpass 1,000 career points in Le Moyne's 100–67 home win over New Haven. Dan Sandel had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Le Moyne. Andre Dearing scored seven points and handed out four assists. The Dolphins' third straight win and 14th in their last 17 games improved their record to 15–7 overall and 10–3 in NECC play. That was good for third place in the conference, just percentage points behind Franklin Pierce and New Hampshire College, which were tied for first place at 9–2.
Mike Montesano scored 35 points and was 20 for 23 from the free-throw line, leading the Dolphins to a 106–78 win at Massachusetts Lowell on February 20, 1994. Le Moyne trailed by nine points with 5:02 remaining in the first half and went on a 17–0 run to claim a 51–43 lead at the break. Montesano scored 10 of the 17 points and was 7 for 7 from the charity stripe during the run. The Dolphins opened the second half with a 12–4 run and led by 16 points with 15:51 to play. Dan Sandel had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds for Le Moyne. Karl Radday added nine points and eight assists. The Dolphins improved to 16–9 overall and 11–4 in NECC play.
After their first home loss of the campaign in their regular-season finale against Southern Connecticut on February 26, the Dolphins finished third in the NECC with a league record of 11–5. Le Moyne hosted Massachusetts Lowell, a team they had beaten easily twice during the regular season, in a NECC quarterfinal game on March 1. The Dolphins were confused by the changing zone defenses used by the Chiefs and held to 36% shooting from the field and 33% from three-point range, well short of their 40% accuracy from beyond the arc entering the game. Le Moyne committed 1 turnovers, even though Lowell did not press often. Head coach Scott Hicks said that many of the turnovers were unforced, and the players failed to recognize the zones being used, resulting in poor shot selection as the shot clock was winding down. The Chiefs claimed an early 23–11 lead, before the Dolphins got back into the game with an 11–0 run, fueled by a pair of Joe Girard three-pointers. Le Moyne fell behind by nine points midway through the second half but took a two-point lead after a 26–15 run, capped by an Andre Dearing triple. Mike Montesano's free throws broke a tie and gave the Dolphins a 73–71 lead with 24 seconds to play. However, Spencer Staggs hit two charity tosses with seven seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime. Two Lowell starters had fouled out in regulation, which appeared to favor Le Moyne, and Dearing's tree-point play gave the Dolphins a 77–75 lead with 3:12 to play. That was the Dolphins' final basket of the game. Dan Sandel, who had game-highs of 26 points and 18 rebounds, fouled out diving for a loose ball with Le Moyne trailing 78–77. The Chiefs closed the game on a 12–2 run and secured an 87–79 victory, bringing the Dolphins' season to an abrupt end, having lost two straight at home and four of their last five games.
Dan Sandel finished his collegiate career with 896 rebounds, fourth in Le Moyne program history, and 1,138 points. Joe Girard ended his career as the Dolphins' all-time leader in three-point field goals with 289.
Dan Sandel was named 1994 first-team All-NECC and Mike Montesano was named to the second team. Joe Girard was named 1994 first-team District I Academic All-America in February and National Academic All-America in March 1994.
The Dolphins lost three starters to graduation in 1994: point guard Andre Dearing and co-captains Joe Girard, the program's all time leader in career three-point field goals, and Dan Sandel, the 1993–94 team's leading scorer and rebounder. Returning for the 1994–95 season were seniors Mike Montesano, Bob McFadden and Karl Radday, juniors Adam Stockwell and Dan Drews, sophomores Rob Atene, John Henches and Bob Kawa Jr. and redshirt freshman Bryan Menar. Dave Ingram, a 6'3" sophomore swingman, who transferred from Tennessee Tech, was new to the team. Head coach Scott Hicks thought 6'1" freshman guard Keith Moyer was underrecruited. Moyer averaged 19.6 points and seven assists per game as a senior at Central Square High School, which reached the New York state Class B final. Other additions were freshman Dan Faulkner, a 6'4" forward, and walk-on sophomore Kurt Stroman, a 6'5" forward. Montesano, McFadden and Radday were named tri-captains.
Over the summer, Mike Montesano and Bob McFadden played in the 1994 Empire State Games. Montesano represented the Western Region, and McFadden played for the Central Region.
After starting the season 2–1, the Dolphins welcomed highly touted Saint Rose to the Henninger Athletic Center on December 3, 1994. Le Moyne's 2-3 zone defense befuddled the Golden Knights in the first half, and the Dolphins built a 40–31 lead at the break. However, Saint Rose solved Le Moyne and went 5 for 9 from behind the arc in the second half and ended up 7 for 15 for the game. The Golden Knights had only attempted 10 triples in their first three games of the season. Their hot shooting gave Saint Rose an 81–69 lead, but the Dolphins battled back. With 13 seconds to play, Le Moyne had cut the deficit to 89–86, when freshman Dan Faulkner forced Ralph Bucci to travel, giving the Dolphins possession. Mike Montesano's three-pointer with eight seconds to play was off the mark, but Faulkner saved the rebound from going out of bounds. After the ball glanced off Dan Drews, it bounced to Montesano, who stepped back and hit a triple at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. In the closing seconds of overtime, the Dolphins had the ball, down by a point. Adam Stockwell drove the lane. The defender, Jermaine Henderson, swatted down with his left hand, and Stockwell's forced shot missed at the buzzer, giving Saint Rose a 96–95 victory. After the game, Henderson said, "I got all ball," and Stockwell said he did not know whether he was fouled. Head coach Scott Hicks would not comment on whether a foul should have been called, but Montesano vehemently insisted Stockwell was fouled. The loss spoiled a magnificent game for Montesano, who set a new career high with 37 points. Stockwell finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Dave Ingram had two points and six assists for Le Moyne.
In their final game before conference play began, the Dolphins fell, 94–54, at Syracuse, ranked no. 11 in the Division I AP poll. Mike Montesano had a game-high 22 points for Le Moyne. Adam Stockwell added 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore center John Henches battled the bigger Orangemen and finished with six points, five rebounds and an assist. Rob Atene did not score for the Dolphins but had four assists and a steal. The loss dropped Le Moyne to 4–3 on the season. This was the final regulation game Le Moyne played against a Division I team, until they reclassified to Division I in 2023. All future games in the Dolphins' Division II era versus Division I opponents were exhibition games for Le Moyne. Throughout Le Moyne's history as a small college/College Division/Division II program, the Dolphins finished 65–111 (.369) versus major program/University Division/Division I opponents.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Dolphins hosted New Hampshire College, ranked no. 16 in the Division II poll,$^{:42}$ but losers of three of the previous four games, on January 11, 1995. Le Moyne shot poorly in the first half, hitting only 11 of 31 from the floor, and fell behind by 12 points before cutting the deficit to three points at halftime. The Penmen surged to another 12-point lead with 7:35 to play, before a 19–6 Dolphins run gave Le Moyne a 79–78 lead with 1:24 remaining. New Hampshire College got a dunk on their next possesson to move back in front with 39 seconds left. Rob Atene dribbed and ran down the clock before passing to an open Bob McFadden, whose shot from the lane missed. Baris Kacar grabbed the rebound for the Penmen but traveled, when he fell to the floor with five seconds on the clock. New Hampshire College stole the ensuing inbounds pass and hit a pair of free throws with two seconds to play. Another Penmen steal of a Le Moyne inbounds pass sealed an 82–79 win for New Hampshire College. The Dolphins dropped to 7–5 overall and 3–2 in NECC play, after losing a game the players felt they should have won. Le Moyne had 14 steals in the game and forced 26 Penmen turnovers, while committing only 10. The Dolphins outrebounded New Hampshire College, 36–31. Adam Stockwell had a game-high 21 points for Le Moyne and added four rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Adam Stockwell was named to the ECAC honor roll on January 17. In addition to his performance against New Hampshire College, Stockwell had 18 points and nine rebounds in a win over Keene State and 20 points and nine rebounds in Le Moyne's victory over Sacred Heart.
The Dolphins overcame a slow start and a 10-point second-half deficit to earn their fifth straight win, a 70–68 triumph over Franklin Pierce on January 28. After Le Moyne surged ahead, shaky free-throw shooting in the late stages of the game allowed the Ravens to tie the score at 68. With 17 seconds to play, Kevin Ervin of Franklin Pierce saved a loose ball from going out of bounds under the Ravens' basket. Dan Drews grabbed the ball and scored to give the Dolphins the lead. Mike Montesano scored 23 points to lead Le Moyne and added two assists and to steals. Drews had 12 points and six rebounds, and Adam Stockwell finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two assists. Bob McFadden had nine points and six rebounds, and freshman Keith Moyer scored three points and had a team-high three assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 12–5 overall and 8–2 in NECC play.
The struggling Dolphins, losers of three of their previous four games, survived a New Haven second-half surge and escaped with a 71–67 home win on February 11. Le Moyne had a 17-point lead early in the second half that the Chargers erased with a 30–12 run. With the score tied at 62, a Dan Drews three-pointer and a pair fo free throws by Bob McFadden gave the Dolphins a five-point lead with 1:14 to play. After New Haven scored, Rob Atene's pass to Adam Stockwell for a basket with 32 seconds left restored Le Moyne's five-points advantage. A triple by the Chargers cut the lead to two points, and New Haven fouled Mike Montesano, who hit both free throws with 27 seconds on the clock. The Chargers missed three shots and collected a pair of offensive rebounds but did not score again as the Dolphins held on for the win. Montesano led Le Moyne with 23 points and six assists. Stockwell added nine points and nine rebounds for the Dolphins, who improved to 14–8 overall and 9–5 in NECC play and clinched home-court advantage for the NECC quarterfinals.
Although Adam Stockwell played well enough to be named to the NECC honor roll, averaging 20.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, during the final full week of the regular season, the Dolphins faltered, dropping their final two league games to finish with a 9–7 conference record, tied for third place with Massachusetts Lowell. Since the teams had identical records versus each conference opponent, a coin flip was needed to determine the no. 3 seed. Massachusetts Lowell won the coin flip, and Le Moyne was the no. 4 seed in the conference tournament.
Mike Montesano scored 35 points to lead the Dolphins to a 102–76 home win over no. 5 seed Southern Connecticut in the NECC quarterfinals on February 26. His performance made Montesano the first Dolphins player to score 600 points in a single season in program history. Le Moyne took control of the game early, shooting 65% from the floor and making 9 of 14 three-pointers in the first half to claim a 17-point lead at the break. Adam Stockwell scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Dolphins, and Rob Atene added three points and five assists.
No. 1 seed New Hampshire College led wire to wire and delighted their home crowd after defeating the Dolphins 98–86 in the NECC semifinals on March 1. The Penmen shot 13 for 27 from beyond the arc, while Le Moyne was 9 for 34. The Dolphins got within eight points of the lead on a Dan Drews three-pointer with 53 seconds to play, but New Hampshire College was 6 for 8 from the free-throw line for the rest of the game. Senior Mike Montesano scored 20 points to lead Le Moyne. He fouled out in the closing seconds for the first time this season and left the floor to a standing ovation from the Penmen fans. Montesano finished the season with 646 points, a Le Moyne program record. His 1,759 career points made him the Dolphins' third all-time leading scorer. Drews finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Dave Ingram did not score but had five assists for Le Moyne. Adam Stockwell added 19 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the floor, and Karl Radday had 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in his final collegiate game. The Dolphins finished their season 16–12. Montesano was named to the All-Tournament team.
Mike Montesano was named 1995 first-team All-NECC. He was also named second-team Division II All-District for the Northeast Region. Montesano was selected as a second-team Division II All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He was the first player in Le Moyne program history to make the second team.
The Dolphins lost Mike Montesano, who had set a new program record for points in a season in his final campaign, Bob McFadden and Karl Radday to graduation in 1995. Returning for the 1995–96 campaign were seniors Adam Stockwell and Dan Drews, juniors Rob Atene, Dave Ingram, Bob Kawa Jr. and Kurt Stroman, redshirt sophomore Bryan Menar and sophomores Dan Faulkner and Keith Moyer. Junior John Henches was injured during the offseason and was unavailable until the following fall. The injury to Henches, who started at center the previous season, meant Le Moyne would rely heavily on 6'9" freshman center John Tomsich from Saint Peter's in Mansfield, Ohio. Kevin Moyer, a 5'11" walk-on freshman guard from Paul V. Moore High School, joined his brother, Keith, on the team. Freshman Dave Langrell, a 6'5" forward from New Zealand, was added to the team between semesters. Stockwell, Drews and Menar were named tri-captains.
Le Moyne announced, in June 1995, that the school's athletic programs would move to the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10) starting with the 1996–97 academic year, which meant this would be the final season for the Dolphins in the NECC.
Adam Stockwell was named NECC player of the week on December 4, after scoring 23 points against Southern Connecticut and 24 against New Haven, as the Dolphins won their first two games in conference play. The wins improved Le Moyne to 5–1 overall.
Adam Stockwell became the 27th Dolphin to reach 1,000 career points in Le Moyne's 74–62 win at Stony Brook on January 3, 1996. Stockwell had 18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals in the game. The win improved the Dolphins to 7–2 overall and 4–1 in NECC play.
Adam Stockwell scored 33 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the floor in the Dolphins' 87–71 home victory over Bridgeport on January 7. John Tomsich had a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots for Le Moyne, and Rob Atene added five points, eight assists and four steals. The Dolphins improved to 9–2 overall and 6–1 in the NECC with their fourth straight win.
The Dolphins hosted New Hampshire College, ranked no. 18 in the NCAA Division II poll,$^{:43}$ on January 21. After Le Moyne claimed an early 29–22 lead, the Penmen closed the first half with a 16–2 run and led by seven points at halftime. The Dolphins' defense dominated the second half, holding the Penmen to 32% shooting from the floor, including a 1-for-8 clip from beyond the arc, and winning the battle on the boards, 22–12. However, when starting point guard Rob Atene fouled out with 3:42 to play, Le Moyne led by only 67–64. Keith Moyer, who had not yet scored in the game, answered the call to fill in for Atene and ran the offense while scoring six points in the closing minutes to secure a 77–69 victory. Freshman center John Tomsich proved to be a difficult matchup for the undersized Penmen. He finished with eight points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four blocked shots and a steal. Adam Stockwell scored 21 points and dished out six assists to lead the Dolphins. Dan Drews added 18 points and seven rebounds for Le Moyne, which improved to 12–3 overall and 9–2 in NECC play.
Adam Stockwell scored 33 points to lead the Dolphins to an 84–70 victory at Hobart on January 31, 1996. Stockwell shot 12 for 23 from the floor, including 5 for 12 from three-point range, and added 11 rebounds for a double-double. The Dolphins got off to a slow start but closed the first half with a 10–0 run to take a seven-point lead at the break. Freshman John Tomsich set a new single-season program record with his 63rd blocked shot of the campaign. He finished the game with three points and five blocks. Dan Drews had a double-double for Le Moyne with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, and Dave Ingram scored 18 points off the bench. The Dolphins' sixth straight win improved their record to 16–3.
The Dolphins hosted Franklin Pierce in a battle for first place in the NECC on February 3. After falling behind, 21–10, Le Moyne used a 2-2-1 zone press to create turnovers and fuel a 21–0 run and seize a 10-point lead. By halftime, the Ravens had cut the lead to four points. The second half remained tight, and Franklin Pierce took a 70–67 lead on a three-pointer with 1:05 to play. The Dolphins missed a three-point attempt and committed three turnovers in the final minute. Dan Drews hit a late triple for Le Moyne, cutting the lead to 73–70, but the Ravens hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to ice a 77–72 victory. Franklin Pierce was 8 for 15 on three-pointers, while Le Moyne was only 3 for 13. Adam Stockwell scored 16 points to lead the Dolphins, and Drews added 15 points and nine rebounds. Rob Atene had nine points and six assists for Le Moyne, who fell to 16–4 overall and 12–3 in NECC play.
The Dolphins defeated Stony Brook, 62–50, in their final home game of the regular season and in their NECC finale on February 17. Adam Stockwell scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists for Le Moyne. Dan Drews had a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Dolphins improved to 20–5 overall and 16–4 in the NECC, good for second place. The Dolphins did not know whether they would be playing at home again this season. New Hampshire College had two NECC games remaining, and, if they won both, they would tie Le Moyne for second place and win the tiebreaker for the no. 2 seed in the NECC tournament. The top two seeds received a bye to the semifinals, played on the home court of the no. 1 seed, Franklin Pierce. The no. 3 seed played a conference quarterfinal game at home.
New Hampshire College earned an 82–66 home win over Massachusetts Lowell on February 21, to clinch the no. 2 seed in the NECC tournament, dropping the Dolphins to the no. 3 seed.
The Dolphins escaped their NECC semifinal game against Albany (NY) with a 76–73 overtime victory over the Great Danes, whom they had beaten twice during the regular season. The game was tight throughout, and neither team led by more than five points during the second half or overtime. After Le Moyne took a 74–73 lead in overtime, the Great Danes and Dolphins each failed to score on three straight possessions. On Albany's next possession, Le Moyne head coach Scott Hicks gambled and had his team press while protecting a one-point lead, and Dan Drews fouled Tom McGoldrick with 12 seconds left. McGoldrick missed the front end of a one-and-one. John Tomsich snatched the rebound and was fouled with nine seconds to play. With a chance to put the game away for the Dolphins, Tomsich missed both free throws. However, Drews back-tapped the rebound, and Rob Atene retrieved the ball. Atene passed to Adam Stockwell, who had not scored since the 6:13 mark of the second half. Stockwell was fouled with four seconds left and hit both free throws to seal the win. Stockwell logged 43 minutes and finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals. Drews had 24 points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals. Atene added four points and seven assists, and Tomsich had six points and two blocked shots. The Dolphins improved to 22–5 on the season.
Leading by three points with 15 minutes to play, the Dolphins went on a 13–3 run to break the game open and defeated New Hampshire College, 81–68, in the NECC semifinals on March 1. Adam Stockwell scored 25 points to lead Le Moyne, and Dan Drews added 16 points and six rebounds.
The Dolphins surged ahead of Southern Connecticut in the final 10 minutes of the NECC final on March 2, and hit eight straight free throws in the final five minutes to defeat the Owls, 77–73, and win the conference title, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Dave Ingram scored 19 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Dan Drews had 22 points and eight rebounds for Le Moyne, and Rob Atene added 11 points and seven assists. The Dolphins improved to 24–5 on the season, matching the highest win total in program history, previously achieved in 1987–88.
The Dolphins were seeded no. 5 in the Northeast Region and matched with no. 4 seed Franklin Pierce, ranked no. 17 in the Division II poll, in a first-round game played on Siena's home court in Loudonville, New York. Le Moyne shot only 34% from the floor, while allowing the Ravens to shoot 55% and suffered an 83–53 loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 8.$^{:29}$ Adam Stockwell scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Dolphins. Dan Drews was limited to nine points and three rebounds by the bigger Ravens. Stockwell finished his collegiate career with 1,458 points and 498 rebounds. Drews finished with 992 points, 485 rebounds and 45 blocked shots.
Adam Stockwell was named 1996 first-team All-NECC, and Dan Drews received All-NECC honorable mention. Stockwell was also named first-team District I Academic All-American, first-team All-ECAC Division II North and All-Northeast Region as selected by coaches and sports information directors.
The Dolphins lost Adam Stockwell and Dan Drews to graduation in 1996. In addition, Dave Langrell did not return for his sophomore season and began a professional career overseas. Stockwell, Drews and Langrell accounted for 55% of Le Moyne's points and 42% of their rebounds during the previous season. Seniors Rob Atene, Dave Ingram and Bob Kawa Jr., redshirt juniors John Henches and Bryan Menar, junior Keith Moyner and sophomores John Tomsich and Kevin Moyer all returned for the 1996–97 season. Henches had redshirted the previous campaign with an ankle injury suffered during the preseason. New freshman Jesse Potter, a 6'7" forward from Boardman High School in Ohio, was injured for most of his high school senior year but impressed Dolphins head coach Scott Hicks during the preseason. Freshman Rashaan Bute, a 6'5" forward from Pittsburgh, was also new to the team. Michael Culley, a 6'3" guard, who was the all-time leading career scorer at North Middlesex Regional High School in Massachusetts and was injured early in training camp, missing several practices, recovered in time to make his debut as a freshman in a preseason exhibition game. Brett Doody, a 6'6" forward, who was a finalist for Mr. Maine Basketball after averaging 27 points per game as a high school senior, was expected to provide outside shooting. Walk-on junior Mike Ondrejko, a 6'2" guard, was also new to the team. Atene, Ingram and Menar were named tri-captains.
The Dolphins earned a 63–53 victory in their inaugural NE10 conference game at Quinnipiac on December 7. Freshman Michael Culley scored 16 points, shooting 5 for 8 from three-point range, to lead Le Moyne. Freshman Rashaan Bute added 14 points, shooting 6 for 8 from the floor. The win was the Dolphins' third straight, improving their record to 3–2 on the season.
Rashaan Bute was named ECAC Division II North rookie of the week for his 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Dolphins' 67–63 home loss against Cheyney on December 14. Le Moyne freshman Jesse Potter joined Bute with his first career double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the game.
The Dolphins lost the opening game of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational at Stony Brook University Arena to New York Tech, 56–49, on December 28. The score was tied late in the game, and the Bears closed the contest on a 9–2 run to secure the victory. Rashaan Bute scored a team-high 11 points and had three assists to lead Le Moyne, and John Tomsich added eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. The following day, Tomisch scored a career-high 22 points, snatched seven rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Dolphins to an 85–65 victory over Teikyo Post in the tournament's third-place game. Le Moyne built a nine-point lead by intermission, and the Eagles got no closer than within seven points in the second half. The Dolphins held Teikyo Post to 33% shooting from the floor for the game while hitting 42% of their own shots. Bryan Menar added 16 points, Jesse Potter scored six points and pulled down nine rebounds, Dave Ingram had four points and five assists, and Rob Atene finished with nine points and six steals for Le Moyne. The win snapped the Dolphins' three-game losing streak and improved their record to 4–5.
The Dolphins overcame an eight-point halftime deficit, fueled by an early second-half 13–0 run with all 13 points scored by John Tomsich, and held off a late charge by defending NE10 champion Saint Anselm to earn a 60–59 home win on January 18, 1997. Tomsich finished with a game-high 17 points. Le Moyne limited the Hawks, who entered the game shooting 45% from the floor on the season, to just a 33% clip. Michael Culley added 14 points and shot 4 for 8 from beyond the arc. Jesse Potter had his second straight double-double for the Dolphins with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Rob Atene finished with three points and six assists for Le Moyne. The win was the second straight for the Dolphins and evened their record at 7–7 while improving them to a 4–3 mark in NE10 play.
The Dolphins lost at Division III Hobart, 79–66, on January 29. It was the fourth straight defeat for Le Moyne and the first loss against a Division III, NAIA or NCCAA program since December 28, 1990. The Dolphins had won 24 straight games against such opponents. John Tomsich scored 17 points before fouling out to lead Le Moyne. The Dolphins dropped to 7–11 on the season.
With their injured starting point guard, Rob Atene, missing his fourth straight game, the Dolphins fell behind at home by 13 points in the first half but bounced back with a 22–0 run and upset Bryant, ranked no. 18 in Division II,$^{:44}$ 82–71. The win ended Le Moyne's five-game losing streak, the longest under the five-year tenure of head coach Scott Hicks. The Dolphins' most recent five-game losing streak had been between December 30, 1988 and January 14, 1989. John Tomsich came off the bench for the first time this season and responded with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Keith Moyer, starting in place of Atene, had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists and was 6 for 6 from the free-throw line in the closing minutes. Freshman Jesse Potter had nine points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Le Moyne. The Dolphins improved to 8–12 overall and 5–7 in NE10 play.
In their final regular-season game, the Dolphins clinched a berth in the NE10 tournament with an 80–64 home win over Bentley on February 22. Le Moyne never trailed in the game and used a 9–0 run to break a tie in the first half. The Dolphins remained in control the rest of the way. John Henches scored 14 points to lead Le Moyne. John Tomsich added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Rob Atene, playing his final home game, finished with eight points, eight rebounds and a game-high six assists. Le Moyne finished the regular season 10–16 overall and 7–11 in NE10 play, earning the no. 7 seed in the conference tournament.
John Tomsich found Dave Ingram with a back-door pass for a layup with four minutes to play, sparking an 8–0 run in the Dolphins' NE10 quarterfinal game at no. 2 seed Assumption on February 24. The basket gave Le Moyne a one-point lead, and the run allowed the Dolphins to secure a 72–66 victory. Tomsich finished with a game-high 18 points and added six rebounds, four steals and one block. Ingram had four points, six rebounds and a team-high six assists. Michael Culley had 16 points and six rebounds and shot 4 for 8 from three-point range for the Dolphins. John Henches added nine points and six rebounds, and Rob Atene had 12 points and four steals.
The NE10 semifinals and final were hosted by top seed Saint Michael's. The Dolphins met no. 3 seed Saint Anselm in their semifinal game. Senior Dave Ingram extended his collegiate career by scoring Le Moyne's final eight points of regulation. His contested triple from the left elbow tied the game with 2.7 seconds left and sent it to overtime. Senior Rob Atene hit four straight free throws to give the Dolphins an eight-point lead with 35.1 seconds to play. After the Hawks hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to five points, they fouled freshman Michael Culley, an 80% free-three shooter. However, Culley missed both shots, and Saint Anselm hit another triple to get within two points. Jesse Potter, a 67% free-throw shooter, was fouled and hit both charity tosses to put the Dolphins ahead, 77–73, with less than 15 seconds left. The Hawks hit another three-pointer at the final buzzer, and Le Moyne held on for a 77–76 win. Ingram finished with 15 points off the bench. Atene had 15 points and six assists. Potter's two late free throws were his only points of the game, but he also grabbed 11 rebounds. John Tomsich scored 25 points and snatched 13 rebounds to lead the Dolphins.
In the NE10 final on March 1, no. 4 seed Bryant, which had upset Saint Michael's in the semifinals, took a 42–41 lead with 13:36 to play. The Dolphins pushed ahead with a 12–6 run over the next eight minutes. The run started with a John Tomsich basket and continued with a Rob Atene steal and fast-break layup. With the Dolphins protecting a six-point lead, Atene scored on a 10-foot turnaround jump shot and then stole the ball and scored on a layup to give Le Moyne a 61–51 lead with 4:22 remaining. The Dolphins went on to a 72–61 victory, and Atene was the tournament's most valuable player. Atene had a double-double with 11 points, 10 assists and two steals, both of which came at pivotal moments. Despite extended stretches on the bench due to foul trouble, Tomsich also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Jesse Potter gave Le Moyne three players with double-doubles. He finished with a game-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Dave Ingram and Bryan Menar held Bryant's All-NE10 guard Noel Watson to 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting. Ingram added eight points. Atene was named NE10 player of the week, and Potter was the conference's freshman of the week.
The NE10 champion Dolphins, making their second straight NCAA tournament appearance, were given the no. 6 seed in the Northeast Regionals of the 1997 tournament, hosted by New Hampshire College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and matched against no. 3 seed Saint Rose, ranked no. 11 in Division II,$^{:44}$ in the first round. Le Moyne was the only club in the field of 48 teams with a losing record. The Dolphins got out of the gate with an early 9–2 lead and were ahead, 40–38, at the break, despite John Tomsich spending much of the first half in foul trouble. After Tomsich was called for his fourth foul three minutes into the second half, the Golden Knights pounded the ball inside and went on a 21–0 run, getting 18 of those points on layups and dunks. Le Moyne was unable to recover and fell, 92–76.$^{:30}$ Senior Rob Atene scored 19 points to lead the Dolphins and added eight assists and two steals in his final collegiate game. Michael Culley scored 18 points on six three-pointers and added a team-high nine rebounds. Jesse Potter finished with six points, seven rebounds and four blocks for Le Moyne. The Dolphins finished the season 13–17, the first losing campaign for head coach Scott Hicks and the first for the program since the 1985–86 season.
In May 1997, Scott Hicks resigned as the Dolphins' head coach to take the head coaching job at Albany State (NY), which was planning to transition to Division I. Hicks was 87–56 in his five years at Le Moyne. Le Moyne athletic director Dick Rockwell said that a search committee would recommend three candidates and that he wanted to name a replacement by the second week of June.

### Dave Paulsen era

On June 18, 1997, Le Moyne introduced Dave Paulsen as the Dolphins' new head coach, replacing the departed Scott Hicks. Paulsen, 32 years old at the time, had been the head coach at St. Lawrence the previous three seasons with a record of 50–28 and was named Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association coach of the year in each of the previous two campaigns. Assistant coaches Gallagher Driscoll and Sean McDonnell committed to remain on Paulsen's staff. Jim "Duke" McGrath, a Le Moyne alumnus from the class of 1962, joined the staff as a volunteer assistant coach. McGrath played on the Dolphins' 1958–59 freshman team but never played on the varsity squad. He played varsity baseball at Le Moyne for two seasons and was the team's co-captain during his senior year. McGrath had a successful 23-year career as a high school basketball coach.
The Dolphins went on a foreign tour to London between August 9 and 19, 1997. Le Moyne played three teams from the British Basketball League, losing all three games, and earned a win against an amateur club team. Only returning players and not any newly recruited players were permitted by NCAA rules to make the trip.
Redshirt senior Bryan Menar and seniors Keith Moyer and Mike Ondrejko, a walk-on, returned for the 1997–98 season. John Henches had a year of eligibility remaining due to a medical redshirt, but he graduated and left the program. Also returning were juniors John Tomsich and Kevin Moyer, a walk-on, and sophomores Rashaan Bute, Michael Culley, Brett Doody and Jesse Potter. New to the team were sophomore walk-ons Shannon Flood, a 6'1" guard and Terry Pudney and freshmen A.J. Warren, a 6'1" swingman, Jakub Hrabovský, a 6'6" forward from the Czech Republic, and guard Ronald Garura. Menar, Keith Moyer and Tomsich were named tri-captains. First-year head coach Dave Paulsen planned to change the team's defensive approach from primarily zone to man-to-man and install a motion offense instead of running set plays. The players were receptive to the changes. Menar, who was a member of the committee that selected the new head coach, praised Paulsen's confidence, noting that was an important trait in a leader.
In an early-season battle of unbeatens, the Dolphins staged a furious rally to overcome an 18-point deficit with eight minutes to play at Assumption on November 29, 1997, and sent the game to overtime. Jesse Potter split a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to force the extra session. However, the Greyhounds dominated the overtime period and rescued a 105–92 victory. Freshman A.J. Warren keyed the comeback, scoring 12 of his career high 23 points during the final eight minutes of regulation, and added six steals. Keith Moyer scored 10 points and matched Le Moyne's program record with 13 assists. John Tomsich had 23 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and six blocked shots, becoming the Dolphins' all-time leader in career blocks with 158. Michael Culley scored 18 points, all of them coming on six triples. Potter finished with 10 points. Le Moyne fell to 4–1 overall and 1–1 in NE10 play.
John Tomsich recorded his third straight 20-point double-double to lead the Dolphins to a 73–63 home victory over Saint Michael's, ranked no. 16 in the Division II Bulletin poll, on December 3. Tomsich had 16 points in the first half as Le Moyne built a 15-point lead at intermission. The Purple Knights made the game tighter in the second half, as the Dolphins struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 10 for 20, after they had been 8 for 12 in the first half. Tomsich finished with 20 points and 14 boards. Keith Moyer added 17 points and nine assists for Le Moyne, who improved to 5–2 overall and 2–2 in NE10 play.
John Tomsich scored 32 points in the Dolphins' 85–81 loss at Stonehill on January 5, 1998. Tomsich achieved his total despite fouling out of the game and committing six turnovers. Jesse Potter added four points, 13 rebounds, two steals and a block, and Keith Moyer had five points, eight assists and a block for Le Moyne, who fell to 8–3 overall and 4–3 in NE10 play.
Following the Dolphins' January 10 home game against Quinnipiac, head coach Dave Paulsen commented, "I told the guys that it's the mark of a good team to get an ugly win, and for that I was proud of them." Keith and Kevin Moyer and Jesse Potter all played through the flu. The game featured 54 personal fouls, and John Tomsich was called for his fourth two minutes into the second half. Senior walk-on Mike Ondrejko came off the bench and kept the game close with Tomsich sitting out in foul trouble. He scored eight points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, five of them off the offensive glass. When Tomsich returned to the floor with 5:57 to play, he was well rested and put his inside game on display. His basket with 1:56 remaining gave Le Moyne a 67–65 lead. After the Braves tied the score, Tomsich responded with another bucket to put the Dolphins ahead, 69–67, with 1:26 to go. A minute later, Tomsich sank a pair of free throws to ice a 71–67 victory for Le Moyne. Tomsich finished with 15 points, and Keith Moyer scored two points and dished nine assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 10–3 overall and 6–3 in NE10 play.
After a win at Merrimack on January 18, the Dolphins completed the sweep of a rare back-to-back home-and-home set with a 62–61 victory three days later. The Warriors scored the first 10 points of the second half to open an 11-point lead, but Le Moyne responded with a 24–4 run and held a nine-point edge with six minutes to play. Merrimack used a 15–6 spurt to tie the score at 61 in the final minute. John Tomsich was fouled with three seconds to play. He missed the first free throw but made the second. Jesse Potter stole a Merrimack pass to secure the win for the Dolphins. Tomsich finished with a game-high 21 points, 10 of them during Le Moyne's second-half run. Potter had four points and 10 rebounds, and Keth Moyer scored seven points and dished eight assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 12–4 overall and 8–4 in NE10 play.
The Dolphins avenged an early-season road loss with a convincing 91–79 home victory over first-place Assumption on Janaury 24. After the Greyhounds took an early 10–3 lead, Le Moyne pushed ahead by the midpoint of the first half and built a nine-point lead by intermission. Assumption cut the lead to four points, holding the Dolphins without a field goal for the first 2:30 of the second stanza. Le Moyne responded with a 10–3 spurt, sparked by an A.J. Warren basket that broke the field-goal drought, and controlled the game the rest of the way. Warren had a career-high 28 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the floor. Walk-on junior guard Kevin Moyer came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points and was matched by John Tomsich, who had a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Keith Moyer added 12 points and six assists for the Dolphins, who improved to 13–4 overall and 9–4 in NE10 play, 1+1⁄2 games behind Assumption in the standings.
John Tomsich and Keith Moyer each had a double-double in the Dolphins' 96–86 home win over Bentley on January 25. Tomsich finished with a career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Moyer had 12 points and a program record-tying 14 assists. Le Moyne led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the hot-shooting Falcons got within three points with 1:27 to play. A layup by Tomsich with 1:02 left put the game away. Michael Culley added 20 points for the Dolphins, who improved to 14–4 overall and 10–4 in NE10 play.
John Tomsich was named NE10 player of the week for his performances in the three home games against Merrimack, Assumption and Bentley.
John Tomsich scored the game's opening basket, surpassing 1,000 career points, in the Dolphins' January 28 home tilt against Hobart. Le Moyne led by as many as 30 points, and their starters played sparingly in the second half of a 78–60 Dolphins victory. Tomsich finished with 16 points, shooting 8 for 8 from the field, and grabbed eight rebounds in only 23 minutes. Michael Culley had 17 points, and Keith Moyer added two points and nine assists for Le Moyne.
Le Moyne followed up their 1996 and 1997 NCAA tournament appearances with a 20–8 season in 1997–98, under first-year head coach Dave Paulsen. The Dolphins' season ended with a loss to Assumption in the conference tournament semifinals.

### Steve Evans era

Although it was an exhibition game, the Dolphins nevertheless attracted national attention when they defeated Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on November 3, 2009. Syracuse was ranked no. 25 in the preseason AP poll at the time. However, Christopher Johnson's three-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining gave Division II Le Moyne an 82–79 road victory over a Division I national power. Syracuse had finished the previous season 28–10, ranked no. 13 in Division I, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Once the season started, the Orange recovered. They were 2009–10 Big East Conference regular-season champions and reached the Sweet 16 of the 2010 NCAA tournament.
Despite an exit from the 2014 NE10 tournament in the semifinals, Le Moyne received and at-large NCAA tournament bid. As the 6th seed in the East Region, the Dolphins were defeated by Saint Anselm. Le Moyne finished the 2013–14 season 17–12.

### Coach Patrick Beilein and three straight NCAA tournaments

Patrick Beilein, son of John Beilein, who coached the Dolphins from 1983 to 1992, took the head coaching reins in 2015. After a losing record in his first season, Beilein produced an era of success for Le Moyne basketball with three straight NCAA tournament appearances. Beilein made his debut as the Dolphins' head coach in an exhibition game against Michigan, coached by his father, at the Crisler Center. More than 70 members of the Beilein clan traveled from around the country to attend the game, which Michigan won, 74–52.
In 2016–17, the Dolphins won the NE10 Southwest Division title and had the best regular-season record in the entire conference. Despite being upset in the NE10 tournament semifinals, Le Moyne's 22–6 record was good enough to secure an at-large berth as the no. 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA tournament, hosting the first three rounds. However, the Dolphins suffered a first-round loss to Merrimack, 72–68, in overtime in front of the home crowd. For his efforts, Beilein was named 2017 NE10 coach of the year.
Le Moyne's 2017–18 season was perhaps the best in program history by all measures. They achieved a new high in wins with 27, won the NE10 Southwest Division title, had the best conference record of any NE10 team, won the conference tournament and secured a no. 1 seed and hosting rights at the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight. The Dolphins were an astounding 18–2 in conference play and entered the NE10 tournament with a 21–6 record and blitzed their way to the title. They defeated Stonehill by 39 points in the quarterfinals and topped Merrimack, 83–55, in the semifinals. The title game was a 69–63 victory over Northeast Division champion Saint Anselm. Le Moyne's Isaiah Eisendorf was named tournament MVP. Coach Beilein collected his second straight NE10 coach of the year award.
Playing at home in the NCAA tournament, Le Moyne scored victories over Jefferson, Saint Rose and Bloomfield. The Elite Eight was held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the Dolphins fell to West Texas A&M, 87–73. Entering the NCAA tournament, Le Moyne was ranked no. 24 nationally in the season's final Division II coaches poll.$^{:92}$
Le Moyne won another NE10 Southwest Division title in 2018–19. The Dolphins were upset at home in the conference tournament semifinals by Merrimack, 84–77, in overtime. Nevertheless, Le Moyne's 18–10 record earned them the no. 3 seed in the East Region at the NCAA tournament. The Dolphins were matched up in the first round with St. Thomas Aquinas, coached by former Le Moyne assistant coach, Tobin Anderson. After the Dolphins built a 19-point lead, the Spartans staged a furious comeback to earn a 61–59 victory and eliminate Le Moyne from the tournament. After the season, Beirlein left Le Moyne to become the head coach at Division I Niagara.

### Nate Champion era

Nate Champion, a Le Moyne alumnus, was hired as the new head coach in 2019. The Dolphins won their fourth straight NE10 Southwest Division title and had the best NE10 regular-season conference record in Champion's first season. Le Moyne bowed out at home in the NE10 tournament quarterfinals to New Haven, 75–73. Champion was named NE10 coach of the year, the third straight season the award had been won by a Le Moyne coach. The 2020 NCAA tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#### Reclassification to Division I

In April 2022, Le Moyne College president Linda LeMura revealed that the school had hired a consultant to assess the feasibility of reclassifying to Division I and had begun internal discussions regarding the potential impact. In September 2022, a social media post of a sports journalist indicated that the decision to move to Division I had been made, but no official announcement would come from Le Moyne, until it had officially been invited to join a conference.
On May 10, 2023, Le Moyne announced that the school would begin a transition to Division I, joining the Northeast Conference (NEC). The Dolphins officially became a Division I program and a member of the NEC on July 1.
As a team transitioning from Division II, Le Moyne will not be eligible to participate in the NCAA Division I tournament until 2028, since there is a required four-year transition period. However, effective for the 2023–24 academic year, NEC teams transitioning from Division II became eligible to participate in the NEC tournament during the entirety of their transition periods. Prior to the conference's rule change, NEC teams were eligible for the conference tournament only during their third and fourth transition years. As a result, Le Moyne became eligible for the 2024 NEC tournament.
Darrick Jones Jr. hit a three-pointer from the top of the key early in the Dolphins' season opener at Georgetown for Le Moyne's first points scored as a Division I program on November 7, 2023. Ball State transfer Kaiyem Cleary led the Dolphins with 11 points, all in the second half, and seven rebounds. Georgetown used a 9–2 run to take a 12–5 lead early in the game. The Hoyas extended the lead with an 8–0 run that made the score 20–7. After a brief flurry led by Jones, Trent Mosquera and Mike DePersia got the Dolphins within single digits at 28–19, the Hoyas closed the first half with a 19–4 run that gave them a 47–23 halftime lead on their way to a 94–57 victory. Jones and Luke Sutherland each contributed nine points for Le Moyne in the losing cause.
Le Moyne used first-half runs of 16–2 and 20–2 to build a 47–15 lead and never looked back on their way to a 105–46 victory, their first as a Division I program, over Division III SUNY Canton in their 2023–24 home opener on November 13, 2023. Five Dolphins had double-figure scoring games led by Kaiyem Cleary with 21 points. Cleary shot 8 for 10 from the field, while adding seven rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes. The Dolphins shot 32 for 37 on two-point field goals for the game, including 15 for 16 in the first half.
Le Moyne recorded its first victory over a Division I opponent as a Division I program, an 80–70 win at Cal State Northridge on November 21, 2023, in their opening game of the Golden State Hoops Jam, a multi-team event sponsored by Pacific. Luke Sutherland led the Dolphins with 24 points and five rebounds. Le Moyne started five graduate students for the first time in the program's history, and they responded by sprinting to an 11–4 lead to start the game. After Le Moyne fell behind, 15–12, Mike DePersia (eight points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals for the game) sparked a 19–2 run with a pull-up jump shot. The Matadors could not get closer than three points behind the rest of the way. The Dolphins closed out the game with strong free-throw shooting, finishing the game 31 for 34 from the charity stripe.
Kaiyem Cleary scored 43 points on January 27, 2024, to break Le Moyne's single-game individual scoring record, first set on January 7, 1955, and the Dolphins cruised to an 87–74 victory over LIU. Cleary's 43 points were the most scored by a player in regulation and the third most scored by a player in a single game up to that point in the Division I season. Cleary was 14 for 25 from the floor, including 6 for 10 from beyond the arc, and shot 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. He also led Le Moyne in rebounds with seven and had a pair of blocked shots. With Le Moyne trailing, 46–45, early in the second half, Cleary scored 13 points over six and a half minutes to spark a decisive 20–4 run that put the Dolphins ahead, 65–50.
Kaiyem Cleary scored with 45 seconds left in regulation to tie up Le Moyne's home game with Central Connecticut on February 15. After the Blue Devils took a one-point lead in overtime, the Dolphins scored the final six points of the extra session, including a baseline jump shot by Cleary with 1:24 to play that gave Le Moyne the lead for good. Cleary finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. With the win, Le Moyne clinched a berth in the NEC tournament.
Entering the final day of the regular season, Le Moyne had the opportunity to earn the no. 4 seed in the NEC tournament and home-court advantage in the NEC quarterfinals with a win. If the Dolphins were to lose, the no. 4 seed would go to the winner of the regular-season finale between Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner scheduled for the same day.
Le Moyne claimed the no. 4 seed in the NEC tournament and home-court advantage in the NEC quarterfinals with a 74–58 win at Saint Francis on March 2. Luke Sutherland led the Dolphins with 22 points, shooting 8 for 10 from the field and 3 for 4 from beyond the arc, seven rebounds, a career-high eight assists, two blocked shots and one steal. After the Red Flash took a 3–0 lead, Le Moyne went on a 10–0 run, keyed by five points from Nate McClure, and led the rest of the way.
Kaiyem Cleary was named first-team All-NEC. Luke Sutherland was named to the all-conference second team.
Powered by Luke Sutherland's 22 points, Le Moyne cruised to an 82–61 wire-to-wire victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the program's Division I postseason debut on March 6. The Dolphins opened the game with three three-pointers to take a 9–0 lead just 1:45 into the contest.
After Le Moyne jumped out to an early 13–4 lead in the NEC semifinals on March 9, Merrimack's defense got the Warriors back into the game, and a 19–3 run in the later part of the first half helped them build a 28–20 lead at intermission. The Dolphins cut the deficit to three with 14:47 to play on a put-back by Kaiyem Cleary. The teams traded three-pointers over the next three minutes, until Samba Diallo's layups on consecutive possessions extended Merrimack's lead to seven points. The Dolphins responded with a 6–2 run to get within three points at 40–37 with 8:14 to play. An 8–2 Warriors run gave them a nine-point lead with 6:45 on the clock, but Le Moyne responded with a pair of three-pointers by Luke Sutherland to pull within three again with 5:42 to play. After each team had two empty possessions over the next two minutes, Bryan Etumnu was fouled on a layup and completed the three-point play, sparking a 9–2 Merrimack run that put the game away. The Warriors' 61–51 victory ended the Dolphins' inaugural Division I season. Sutherland had 23 points and eight rebounds for Le Moyne, and he was named to the NEC All-Tournament Team.

## Season-by-season results

In 75 completed seasons through 2023–24, the Dolphins have finished with a winning record 50 times, a losing record 22 times and a .500 record four times.

## Coaches

There have been nine head coaches in the history of Le Moyne men's basketball. The program has played 1,949 games across 76 seasons from the program's inaugural 1948–49 campaign through the end of the 2024–25 season.
Tommy Niland had the longest tenure at Le Moyne, coaching for 25 seasons, and is the all-time leader in games coached (534) and wins (324) at the school.
Patrick Beilein has the highest winning percentage among Le Moyne head coaches with a 77–41 (.653) record over four seasons from 2015 to 2019.
The current head coach is Nate Champion, who played for the Dolphins from 2010 to 2014.

## Postseason results
### NCAA Division II

During their time in NCAA Division II, the Dolphins were selected to play in the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament 14 times. They had a combined record of 7–18.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1959 | Regional Semifinals | Williams | W 72–66 |
| 1959 | Sweet 16 | Saint Michael's | L 70–71 |
| 1960 | Regional Semifinals | St. Anselm | L 75–108 |
| 1960 | Regional Third Place | Assumption | L 68–94 |
| 1964 | Regional Semifinals | Youngstown State | W 64–53 |
| 1964 | Sweet 16 | Akron | L 38–62 |
| 1965 | Regional Semifinals | Assumption | L 58–76 |
| 1965 | Regional Third Place | Hartwick | L 68–70 |
| 1966 | First Round | Philadelphia Textile | L 61–83 |
| 1966 | Regional Consolation | Potsdam State | W 86–63 |
| 1968 | First Round | Buffalo State | L 66–83 |
| 1968 | Regional Consolation | Northeastern | L 54–67 |
| 1969 | Regional Semifinals | Montclair State | L 75–79 |
| 1969 | Regional Third Place | Albany State (NY) | L 70–71 |
| 1988 | Regional Semifinals | California (PA) | L 88–91 |
| 1988 | Regional Third Place | Kutztown | W 89–81 |
| 1996 | First Round | Franklin Pierce | L 53–83 |
| 1997 | First Round | Saint Rose | L 76–92 |
| 2014 | First Round | Saint Anselm | L 62–73 |
| 2017 | First Round | Merrimack | L 68–72$^{OT}$ |
| 2018 | First Round | Jefferson | W 75–57 |
| 2018 | Regional Semifinals | Saint Rose | W 67–63 |
| 2018 | Sweet 16 | Bloomfield | W 75–59 |
| 2018 | Elite Eight | West Texas A&M | L 73–87 |
| 2019 | First Round | St. Thomas Aquinas | L 59–61 |

### National Catholic Invitational Tournament

The Dolphins participated in the National Catholic Invitational Tournament twice. They had a combined record of 4–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1951 | First Round | Saint Michael's | W 95–57 |
| 1951 | Quarterfinals | Siena | W 57–53 |
| 1951 | Semifinals | St. Francis (NY) | L 66–84 |
| 1951 | Third Place | Mount St. Mary's | W 63–61 |
| 1952 | First Round | Providence | W 67–63 |
| 1952 | Quarterfinals | St. Francis (NY) | L 61–75 |

### Utica Optimist Club Invitational Tournament

The Dolphins participated in the Utica Optimist Club Invitational Tournament three times. They had a combined record of 6–0, winning the tournament each time they participated.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1950 | Semifinals | Brockport State | W 67–60 |
| 1950 | Final | Utica | W 59–57 |
| 1951 | Semifinals | Utica | W 86–69 |
| 1951 | Final | Hartwick | W 86–65 |
| 1952 | Semifinals | Utica | W 72–42 |
| 1952 | Final | Hartwick | W 72–61 |

### NCAA tournament seeding history

The NCAA began seeding the Division II tournament with the 1988 edition.
| Years → | '88 | '96 | '97 | '14 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 |
| Seeds → | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Between 1958 and 1987, the NCAA chose eight or nine schools as hosts for the College Division/Division II regionals. These teams played their regional semifinal games and (if they won) their regional final (Sweet 16) games at home during years the tournament included 32 teams. In some years, there were 36 teams with seven regions having four teams and one region having eight teams. In eight-team regions, the host school might have played as many as three tournament games at home, if it was designated as being in the section given home-court advantage for the regional final. A host school effectively had the privileges of what would later be identified as a no. 1 seed. However, factors such as availability and quality of facilities, expected fan support and travel arrangements entered into the choice of a host school. By the 1980s, the four teams in each region, including the top seed, each submitted competing bids to the NCAA for the right to host, which meant the fourth-seeded team in the region could be selected to play at home. In addition, teams generally played in regions that reflected the locations of the schools. Therefore, if the two best teams in the College Division or Division II were near each other, it is likely only one of them would be selected to host. Thus, the hosts were not necessarily the top eight teams. Nevertheless, Le Moyne was one of the eight host schools for the 1965 and 1969 NCAA tournaments.
The 1966 NCAA tournament included 36 schools, four more than the previous season. Seven of the eight regions had four teams as had previously been the norm. The Northeast Region had eight teams divided into two sections. Le Moyne was selected to host the four games in Section B of the Northeast Region. However, as of the time Le Moyne was chosen as a host, the Dolphins had not yet been extended a bid to play in the tournament. Le Moyne agreed to host regardless of whether it was participating. The Section A winner had the right to host the regional final, which means Le Moyne, which ultimately did receive a tournament bid, would have played the regional final on the road had they advanced that far. This effectively conferred upon Le Moyne the rights and privileges of a no. 2 seed within the region. However, since Le Moyne was in an eight-team region, it would have needed to win one more game than all 28 teams in four-team regions to reach the national quarterfinals, which makes the extra game similar to a play-in game such as the First Four in the present-day Division I tournament.

## Games against higher-division opponents

Starting with Le Moyne's inaugural 1948–49 season through the end of the 1955–56 campaign, the final season before the NCAA split into the University Division and the College Division, the Dolphins were classified by the Associated Press (AP) as a small-college (non-major) program. During that time, Le Moyne played 59 games against major programs, as classified by the AP. The results of such games are shown in the table below.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Le Moyne record |
| December 7, 1948 | Siena | Loss, 41−39 | 0−1 |
| January 29, 1949 | at Siena | Loss, 53−31 | 0−2 |
| December 14, 1949 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 50−48 | 0−3 |
| December 16, 1949 | St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 78−68 | 0−4 |
| January 13, 1950 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 51−44 | 0−5 |
| February 18, 1950 | John Carroll | Win, 78−67 | 1−5 |
| November 23, 1950 | at Siena | Loss, 70−68$^{2OT}$ | 1−6 |
| November 29, 1950 | at Niagara | Loss, 86−61 | 1−7 |
| December 2, 1950 | at Seton Hall | Loss, 63−53 | 1−8 |
| December 5, 1950 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 56−47 | 1−9 |
| December 30, 1950 | Siena | Win, 53−47 | 2−9 |
| March 14, 1951 | at #18 Siena† | Win, 57−53 | 3−9 |
| March 16, 1951 | St. Francis (NY)‡ | Loss, 84−66 | 3−10 |
| November 22, 1951 | at Siena | Loss, 62−41 | 3−11 |
| December 5, 1951 | at Seton Hall | Loss, 55−48 | 3−12 |
| December 7, 1951 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 56−51 | 3−13 |
| December 15, 1951 | at #15 Villanova | Loss, 59−48 | 3−14 |
| January 18, 1952 | #11 Siena | Win, 53−51 | 4−14 |
| January 28, 1952 | Manhattan | Loss, 79−71 | 4−15 |
| February 1, 1952 | Boston College | Loss, 74−58 | 4−16 |
| February 26, 1952 | at Canisius | Loss, 74−58 | 4−17 |
| March 17, 1952 | St. Francis (NY)†† | Loss, 75−61 | 4−18 |
| November 27, 1952 | at Siena | Loss, 53−49 | 4−19 |
| December 13, 1952 | at Niagara | Loss, 70−67 | 4−20 |
| December 19, 1952 | John Carroll | Win, 72−65 | 5−20 |
| December 30, 1952 | Loyola of Los Angeles | Win, 79−74 | 6−20 |
| January 3, 1953 | at #2 Seton Hall | Loss, 75−52 | 6−21 |
| January 10, 1953 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 67−56 | 6−22 |
| January 23, 1953 | #20 Manhattan | Loss, 63−57 | 6−23 |
| January 26, 1953 | Georgetown | Loss, 89−67 | 6−24 |
| January 30, 1953 | Boston College | Win, 64−59 | 7−24 |
| February 24, 1953 | Siena | Win, 68−65 | 8−24 |
| February 28, 1953 | at Villanova | Loss, 62−57 | 8−25 |
| December 2, 1953 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 67−57 | 8−26 |
| December 5, 1953 | at Siena | Win, 60−40 | 9−26 |
| December 12, 1953 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 58−52 | 9−27 |
| January 29, 1954 | Manhattan | Loss, 67−63 | 9−28 |
| February 5, 1954 | Boston College | Win, 77−63 | 10−28 |
| February 22, 1954 | at Villanova | Loss, 62−48 | 10−29 |
| March 6, 1954 | Siena | Loss, 63−55 | 10−30 |
| December 7, 1954 | at #8 Niagara | Loss, 81−57 | 10−31 |
| December 11, 1954 | #20 Western Kentucky State | Win, 77−75 | 11−31 |
| January 1, 1955 | at Siena | Win, 64−60 | 12−31 |
| January 7, 1955 | Saint Joseph's | Win, 94−83 | 13−31 |
| January 28, 1955 | Manhattan | Loss, 72−65 | 13−32 |
| January 31, 1955 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 58−52 | 13−33 |
| February 4, 1955 | Boston College‡‡ | Win, 82−73 | 14−33 |
| February 22, 1955 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 73−69$^{OT}$ | 14−34 |
| February 26, 1955 | at Villanova | Loss, 73−44 | 14−35 |
| March 5, 1955 | Siena | Win, 78−62 | 15−35 |
| December 1, 1955 | at Siena | Win 78−71 | 16−35 |
| December 21, 1955 | Iona††† | Win, 93−70 | 17−35 |
| January 4, 1956 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 80−70 | 17−36 |
| January 10, 1956 | at Niagara | Loss, 81−72 | 17−37 |
| February 3, 1956 | Boston College‡‡‡ | Win, 92−76 | 18−37 |
| February 4, 1956 | Manhattan | Loss, 94−72 | 18−38 |
| February 17, 1956 | Iona | Win, 90−82 | 19−38 |
| February 22, 1956 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 81−61 | 19−39 |
| March 2, 1956 | Siena | Win, 82−59 | 20−39 |
| Home | 13−14 |
| Road | 4−23 |
| Neutral | 3−2 |
| Ranked opponents * Home * Road | 3–4 2–1 1–3 |
| (#) Ranking per AP major-program poll † National Catholic Invitational Tournament quarterfinal played on Siena's home court ‡ National Catholic Invitational Tournament semifinal played in Albany, New York †† National Catholic Invitational Tournament quarterfinal played in Troy, New York ‡‡ Game played in Rochester, New York ††† Game played in Quantico, Virginia ‡‡‡ Game played in Auburn, New York |
On several occasions, the Dolphins, playing as a College Division or Division II team, recorded victories over University Division or Division I teams. Le Moyne played 58 such games, going 29–29, and won at least one in each of their first 13 seasons as a College Division program, beginning with the NCAA's split into divisions for the 1956–57 season through the end of the 1968–69 season. Details of games played against Division I/University Division opponents are shown in the table below.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Le Moyne record |
| December 1, 1956 | at Siena | Win, 74–41 | 1−0 |
| January 3, 1957 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 82–62 | 1−1 |
| January 19, 1957 | Siena | Win, 68–59 | 2−1 |
| February 2, 1957 | Manhattan | Loss, 81–71 | 2−2 |
| February 9, 1957 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 77–71 | 3−2 |
| February 16, 1957 | at Iona | Loss, 76–72 | 3−3 |
| February 20, 1957 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 69–61 | 3−4 |
| December 10, 1957 | at St. Bonaventure | Loss, 58–46 | 3−5 |
| December 21, 1957 | at Siena | Loss, 78–72 | 3−6 |
| December 27, 1957 | Saint Francis (PA)† | Loss, 70–51 | 3−7 |
| February 5, 1958 | St. Bonaventure | Loss, 65–50 | 3−8 |
| February 14, 1958 | Iona | Win, 64–44 | 4−8 |
| February 22, 1958 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 86–73 | 4−9 |
| March 1, 1958 | Siena | Win, 58–50 | 5−9 |
| March 5, 1958 | at Saint Joseph's | Loss, 69–68 | 5−10 |
| December 1, 1958 | at Villanova | Loss, 83–67 | 5−11 |
| December 20, 1958 | at Siena | Win, 66–65$^{OT}$ | 6−11 |
| January 31, 1959 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 74–61 | 7−11 |
| February 14, 1959 | at Iona | Loss, 58–54 | 7−12 |
| February 28, 1959 | Siena | Win, 60–59 | 8−12 |
| December 7, 1959 | at Siena | Win, 60–46 | 9−12 |
| December 12, 1959 | at Niagara | Loss, 62–57 | 9−13 |
| February 5, 1960 | at St. Francis (NY) | Win, 77–66 | 10−13 |
| February 13, 1960 | Iona | Win, 59–44 | 11−13 |
| February 27, 1960 | Siena | Win, 61–48 | 12−13 |
| December 28, 1960 | Iona‡ | Win, 90–60 | 13−13 |
| January 28, 1961 | at Iona | Loss, 68–63 | 13−14 |
| February 23, 1961 | at Providence | Loss, 80–50 | 13−15 |
| January 27, 1962 | Iona | Win, 61–58$^{OT}$ | 14−15 |
| February 5, 1962 | Providence | Loss, 53–46 | 14−16 |
| February 10, 1962 | at St. Francis (NY) | Win, 73–69 | 15−16 |
| January 20, 1963 | at Niagara | Loss, 68–54 | 15−17 |
| February 2, 1963 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 65–64$^{OT}$ | 16−17 |
| February 9, 1963 | at Iona | Loss, 57–51 | 16−18 |
| December 7, 1963 | at Niagara | Loss, 66–53 | 16−19 |
| January 11, 1964 | at St. Francis (NY) | Win, 58–54 | 17−19 |
| February 1, 1964 | Iona | Win, 74–56 | 18−19 |
| January 9, 1965 | at Iona | Win, 67–64 | 19−19 |
| January 27, 1965 | Saint Peter's | Win, 75–55 | 20−19 |
| February 6, 1965 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 53–46 | 21−19 |
| January 29, 1966 | Iona | Win, 83–71 | 22−19 |
| February 4, 1966 | at Saint Peter's | Loss, 92–72 | 22−20 |
| February 5, 1966 | at St. Francis (NY) | Win, 75–71$^{OT}$ | 23−20 |
| December 28, 1966 | Maine | Win, 85–74 | 24−20 |
| December 29, 1966 | Iona | Loss, 59–45 | 24−21 |
| January 4, 1967 | Saint Peter's | Loss, 87–73 | 24−22 |
| January 28, 1967 | at Iona | Loss, 65–48 | 24−23 |
| February 11, 1967 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 73–62 | 25−23 |
| December 7, 1967 | Iona | Loss, 58–57 | 25−24 |
| December 28, 1967 | Vermont | Win, 95–72 | 26−24 |
| December 29, 1967 | Bucknell | Win, 78–74$^{OT}$ | 27−24 |
| January 5, 1968 | at Saint Peter's | Loss, 114–75 | 27−25 |
| January 6, 1968 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 72–64 | 27−26 |
| January 25, 1968 | Boston College | Loss, 90–61 | 27−27 |
| December 3, 1968 | Saint Peter's | Win, 81–80 | 28−27 |
| December 5, 1968 | at Boston College | Loss, 86–66 | 28−28 |
| January 4, 1969 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 80–75 | 29−28 |
| January 30, 1969 | at Iona | Loss, 68–59 | 29−29 |
| December 20, 1969 | Boston College | Loss, 75–56 | 29−30 |
| January 2, 1970 | at Saint Peter's | Loss, 105–83 | 29−31 |
| January 3, 1970 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 90–69 | 29−32 |
| February 14, 1970 | Iona | Loss, 89–81 | 29−33 |
| December 5, 1970 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 68–62 | 30−33 |
| December 16, 1970 | at Boston College | Loss, 105–68 | 30−34 |
| December 30, 1970 | Lafayette | Loss, 89–75 | 30−35 |
| January 30, 1971 | at Iona | Loss, 67–65 | 30−36 |
| February 16, 1971 | Saint Peter's | Loss, 85–53 | 30−37 |
| December 4, 1971 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 85–79 | 30−38 |
| December 18, 1971 | Boston College | Loss, 81–67 | 30−39 |
| December 29, 1971 | New Hampshire | Win, 61–58 | 31−39 |
| February 9, 1972 | at Saint Peter's | Loss, 103–82 | 31−40 |
| February 26, 1972 | Iona | Win, 90–88$^{3OT}$ | 32−40 |
| January 17, 1973 | at Iona | Win, 60–58 | 33−40 |
| February 6, 1973 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 83–76 | 34−40 |
| February 20, 1973 | at Boston College | Loss, 88–68 | 34−41 |
| January 3, 1974 | Boston College | Loss, 94–75 | 34−42 |
| January 5, 1974 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 95–76 | 34−43 |
| February 20, 1974 | at Buffalo | Win, 103–97 | 35−43 |
| February 23, 1974 | Iona | Win, 79–74 | 36−43 |
| December 4, 1974 | at Boston College | Loss, 113–66 | 36−44 |
| December 9, 1974 | Canisius | Loss, 56–53 | 36−45 |
| January 14, 1975 | at Iona | Win, 65–58 | 37−45 |
| February 5, 1975 | Buffalo | Win, 83–77$^{OT}$ | 38−45 |
| February 15, 1975 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 79–64 | 39−45 |
| December 3, 1975 | at Boston College | Loss, 87–72 | 39−46 |
| February 4, 1976 | at Buffalo | Loss, 86–75 | 39−47 |
| February 14, 1976 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 76–66 | 39−48 |
| February 21, 1976 | Iona | Win, 89–88 | 40−48 |
| January 12, 1977 | Boston College | Win, 89–79 | 41−48 |
| January 22, 1977 | St. Francis (NY) | Win, 74–66 | 42−48 |
| February 12, 1977 | at Canisius | Win, 61–58 | 43−48 |
| February 16, 1977 | Buffalo | Win, 97–87$^{OT}$ | 44−48 |
| November 27, 1977 | at Boston College | Loss, 90–70 | 44−49 |
| December 2, 1977 | at #12 Syracuse | Loss, 90–62 | 44−50 |
| December 3, 1977 | Rhode Island†† | Loss, 84–57 | 44−51 |
| January 21, 1978 | at St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 86–72 | 44−52 |
| December 3, 1978 | Boston College | Loss, 83–70 | 44−53 |
| January 13, 1979 | St. Francis (NY) | Loss, 87–78 | 44−54 |
| February 26, 1979 | #6 Syracuse‡‡ | Loss, 92–60 | 44−55 |
| December 2, 1979 | at Boston College | Loss, 86–57 | 44−56 |
| December 7, 1979 | at #11 Syracuse | Loss, 107–61 | 44−57 |
| December 8, 1979 | Hofstra†† | Loss, 75–64 | 44−58 |
| December 8, 1981 | at Utica | Loss, 53–49 | 44−59 |
| February 2, 1983 | Utica | Loss, 60–59$^{OT}$ | 44−60 |
| December 10, 1983 | at Seton Hall | Loss, 87–76 | 44−61 |
| February 20, 1984 | at Utica | Loss, 55–50 | 44−62 |
| December 8, 1984 | at Seton Hall | Loss, 62–52 | 44−63 |
| December 7, 1985 | at Seton Hall | Loss, 74–39 | 44−64 |
| December 5, 1987 | at Siena | Loss, 75–70 | 44−65 |
| December 3, 1988 | Siena | Loss, 91–52 | 44−66 |
| February 7, 1989 | at Army | Win, 77–70 | 45−66 |
| February 26, 1990 | at Siena | Loss, 90–76 | 45−67 |
| February 14, 1991 | Siena | Loss, 88–75 | 45−68 |
| December 4, 1991 | at Siena | Loss, 81–62 | 45−69 |
| December 22, 1992 | at #13 Syracuse | Loss, 102–71 | 45−70 |
| December 28, 1992 | at Siena | Loss, 83–56 | 45−71 |
| December 29, 1994 | at #11 Syracuse | Loss, 94–54 | 45−72 |
| Home | 31−21 |
| Road | 13−48 |
| Neutral | 1−3 |
| Ranked opponents * Home * Road | 0–5 0–1 0–4 |
| (#) Ranking per AP Division I poll † Game played in Latrobe, Pennsylvania ‡ Game played in Jersey City, New Jersey †† Game played on neutral floor in Syracuse, New York ‡‡ Le Moyne home game played at Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse, New York |

## Rivalry with Siena

Before the Dolphins had ever played a varsity basketball game, Siena was identified as Le Moyne's chief rival. "BEAT SIENA!" was the front-page headline of the school newspaper on November 24, 1948, 13 days before the Dolphins' inaugural varsity game, scheduled to be played at home against Siena. A pep rally was held the night before the game and attended by the team, the head coach, the athletic director and, of course, the cheerleaders. Those organizing the rally had someone dressed as an Indian, Siena's team nickname at the time, appear to be tossed into the bonfire and burned. The rivalry was acknowledged by Siena shortly after the teams began playing, perhaps, in part, because the teams met in the 1951 National Catholic Invitational Tournament (NCIT).
Siena won the first-ever matchup, 41–39, on December 7, 1948, and went on to take the first five games between the teams, the fourth and fifth of which went to overtime, before Le Moyne broke through with a win at home followed by another victory in the NCIT, which was played on Siena's home court.
On March 5, 1955, in Syracuse, a fistfight between Le Moyne's Dan Cavellier and Siena's Tim Hill with two minutes to play in the game between the two teams resulted in the ejection of both players.
In preparation for the Dolphins' December 1, 1956 season opener at Siena, a 20-car motorcade from Syracuse to Albany was organized to transport Le Moyne supporters to the game, and plans were made to have a Le Moyne cheerleader dressed as a deceased Siena Indian and carried into the arena in a funeral procession with the pep band playing a dirge.
Despite the heated rivalry between the two schools, when Siena head coach Dan Cunha resigned after the 1959–60 season, Le Moyne head coach Tommy Niland remarked that he regarded Cunha as a very good friend who was a fine coach and would be hard to replace. Cunha withdrew his resignation in July 1960, and was 1961 MECAA coach of the year.
After Le Moyne's Gary DeYulia felt he was unnecessarily shoved out of bounds in the NCAA tournament-bound Dolphins' regular-season finale in DeWitt against Siena on February 28, 1965, a brief melee broke out between the rival teams, and a Siena player was promptly slammed to the floor by a Dolphin. It appeared it might spread into the stands where the Siena fans were sitting, but cooler heads quickly prevailed. The behavior of the Le Moyne players and fans in connection with the melee was criticized in Siena's school newspaper.
After 21 seasons as Siena's head basketball coach, Dan Cunha resigned for a second time in July 1965. Four months later, Cunha was hired as Le Moyne's new dean of men, a position with no athletic duties.
In 1976, Siena reclassified to Division I, while Le Moyne remained a Division II program. Despite Siena's move, there were plans for Siena to play at Le Moyne on January 15, 1977, and for the Dolphins to continue their series with their archrivals, reduced to one game per season. However, Siena notified Le Moyne in September 1976, that it would be unable to keep its commitment for that date. Le Moyne had no open dates on which a game with Siena could be scheduled. As a result, the two teams did not meet during the 1976–77 season, ending their annual series which started in the 1948–49 season, with the first varsity game Le Moyne ever played. The teams did not meet again for 11 years.
Le Moyne and Siena played one game annually between the 1987–88 and 1992–93 seasons, and Siena won all six of those contests. Le Moyne's 2023 reclassification to Division I creates the possibility that this rivalry may be rekindled. It has been 32 years since the teams last met in an official game. The Dolphins defeated Siena, 73–71, in an exhibition game in November 2017, at Loudonville.
| Le Moyne victories | Siena victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | December 7, 1948 | Geddes | Siena | 41–39 |
| 2 | January 29, 1949 | Loudonville | Siena | 53–31 |
| 3 | November 24, 1949 | Albany | Siena | 46–31 |
| 4 | February 15, 1950 | Geddes | Siena | 60–56$^{OT}$ |
| 5 | November 23, 1950 | Albany | Siena | 70–68$^{2OT}$ |
| 6 | December 30, 1950 | Geddes | Le Moyne | 53–47 |
| 7 | March 14, 1951 | Albany† | Le Moyne | 57–53 |
| 8 | November 22, 1951 | Albany | Siena | 62–41 |
| 9 | January 18, 1952 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 53–51 |
| 10 | November 27, 1952 | Albany | Siena | 53–49 |
| 11 | February 24, 1953 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 68–65 |
| 12 | December 5, 1953 | Albany | Le Moyne | 60–40 |
| 13 | March 6, 1954 | Syracuse | Siena | 63–55 |
| 14 | January 1, 1955 | Albany | Le Moyne | 64–60 |
| 15 | March 5, 1955 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 78–62 |
| 16 | December 1, 1955 | Albany | Le Moyne | 78–71 |
| 17 | March 2, 1956 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 82–59 |
| 18 | December 1, 1956 | Albany | Le Moyne | 74–41 |
| 19 | January 19, 1957 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 68–59 |
| 20 | December 21, 1957 | Albany | Siena | 78–72 |
| 21 | March 1, 1958 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 58–50 |
| 22 | December 20, 1958 | Albany | Le Moyne | 66–65$^{OT}$ |
| 23 | February 28, 1959 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 60–59 |
| 24 | December 7, 1959 | Albany | Le Moyne | 60–46 |
| 25 | February 27, 1960 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 61–48 |
| 26 | December 10, 1960 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 49–45 |
| 27 | February 25, 1961 | Syracuse | Le Moyne | 48–45 |
| 28 | December 9, 1961 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 56–48 |
| 29 | February 24, 1962 | Syracuse | Siena | 64–57 |
| 30 | December 1, 1962 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 43–41 |
| 31 | February 16, 1963 | Loudonville | Siena | 50–49 |
| 32 | February 8, 1964 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 54–46 |
| 33 | January 30, 1965 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 70–65 |
| 34 | February 28, 1965 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 58–48 |
| 35 | January 8, 1966 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 85–74 |
| 36 | March 5, 1966 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 88–72 |
| 37 | January 14, 1967 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 65–63 |
| 38 | March 4, 1967 | DeWitt | Siena | 61–60 |
| 39 | December 16, 1967 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 101–89 |
| 40 | March 2, 1968 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 82–70 |
| 41 | December 19, 1968 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 92–73 |
| 42 | March 1, 1969 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 85–74 |
| 43 | January 21, 1970 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 87–74 |
| 44 | March 7, 1970 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 84–77 |
| 45 | January 20, 1971 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 82–57 |
| 46 | March 6, 1971 | Albany | Siena | 77–72 |
| 47 | January 29, 1972 | Loudonville | Le Moyne | 72–67 |
| 48 | March 4, 1972 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 74–70 |
| 49 | January 27, 1973 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 87–72 |
| 50 | March 3, 1973 | Albany | Siena | 65–61 |
| 51 | January 26, 1974 | Albany | Siena | 101–79 |
| 52 | March 2, 1974 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 87–81 |
| 53 | January 25, 1975 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 73–67 |
| 54 | March 1, 1975 | Loudonville | Siena | 92–74 |
| 55 | January 24, 1976 | Loudonville | Siena | 79–68 |
| 56 | March 4, 1976 | DeWitt | Le Moyne | 81–77 |
| 57 | December 5, 1987 | Loudonville | Siena | 75–70 |
| 58 | December 3, 1988 | DeWitt | Siena | 91–52 |
| 59 | February 26, 1990 | Loudonville | Siena | 90–76 |
| 60 | February 14, 1991 | DeWitt | Siena | 88–75 |
| 61 | December 4, 1991 | Loudonville | Siena | 81–62 |
| 62 | December 28, 1992 | Loudonville | Siena | 83–56 |
| Series: Le Moyne leads 39–23 |||||
| † = National Catholic Invitational Tournament Source: |||||

## In-season tournaments hosted by Le Moyne

In 1964, Le Moyne began hosting an annual four-team Christmas invitational tournament. It was held each December through 1975, except for 1972. Le Moyne hosted tournaments in January 1984 and January and December 1985, branded as the Matt's Premium Classic for sponsorship reasons. Tournaments hosted by Le Moyne in December 1986 through 1990, were branded as the Coca-Cola Classic. The 1991 through 1993 tournaments were called the Coca-Cola/Holiday Inn Carrier Circle Classic. The brackets below show the results of these tournament games.

### 1964

References:
| Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 81 | | | |
| | | | Oswego State | Oswego State | 64 | |
| Oswego State | Oswego State | 59 | Oswego State | Oswego State | 64 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 68 |
| Buffalo | Buffalo | 88 | | | | Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 66 |
| Buffalo | Buffalo | 88 | Buffalo | Buffalo | 86 | Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 66 |
| | | | Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 93 | | | |
Gary DeYulia of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.

### 1965

References:
| Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 84 | | | |
| | | | Kenyon | Kenyon | 73 | |
| Kenyon | Kenyon | 72 | Kenyon | Kenyon | 73 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 53 |
| Southwest Texas State | Southwest Texas State | 97 | | | | Hartwick | Hartwick | 52 |
| Southwest Texas State | Southwest Texas State | 97 | Hartwick | Hartwick | 81 | Hartwick | Hartwick | 52 |
| | | | Southwest Texas State | Southwest Texas State | 63 | | | |
Dan Parham of Hartwick was named most valuable player.

### 1966

References:
| Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 85 | | | |
| | | | Maine | Maine | 74 | |
| Maine | Maine | 67 | Maine | Maine | 74 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 45 |
| Lafayette | Lafayette | 62 | | | | Iona | Iona | 59 |
| Lafayette | Lafayette | 62 | Iona | Iona | 66 | Iona | Iona | 59 |
| | | | Lafayette | Lafayette | 58 | | | |
Bob La Russo of Iona was named most valuable player.
The All-Tournament team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Bob La Russo, Iona
* Bob McMahon, Iona
* Gerry McDermott, Le Moyne
* Terry Carr, Maine
* Bob Kiriloff, Lafayette

### 1967

References:
| Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 95 | | | |
| | | | Vermont | Vermont | 74 | |
| Vermont | Vermont | 66 | Vermont | Vermont | 74 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 78$^{OT}$ |
| St. Francis (NY) | St. Francis (NY) | 72 | | | | Bucknell | Bucknell | 74 |
| St. Francis (NY) | St. Francis (NY) | 72 | Bucknell | Bucknell | 84 | Bucknell | Bucknell | 74 |
| | | | St. Francis (NY) | St. Francis (NY) | 81 | | | |
Gerry McDermott of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The All-Tournament team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Gerry McDermott, Le Moyne
* Ed Farver, Bucknell
* Tom Schneider, Bucknell
* Doug Smith, St. Francis (NY)
* Dave Lapointe, Vermont

### 1968

References:
| Third Place December 28 | Third Place December 28 | Third Place December 28 | Semifinals December 27 | Semifinals December 27 | Semifinals December 27 | Championship December 28 | Championship December 28 | Championship December 28 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 101 | | | |
| | | | Steubenville | Steubenville | 81 | |
| Steubenville | Steubenville | 43 | Steubenville | Steubenville | 81 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 81 |
| Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 62 | | | | Wagner | Wagner | 91 |
| Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 62 | Wagner | Wagner | 67 | Wagner | Wagner | 91 |
| | | | Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 62 | | | |
Ray Hodge of Wagner was named most valuable player.
The tournament All-Star team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Ray Hodge, Wagner
* Bill Wolfe, Wagner
* Chuck Brady, Le Moyne
* Jay Cody, Saint Michael's
* Pat Mulligan, Steubenville

### 1969

References:
| Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 69 | | | |
| | | | Albany State (GA) | Albany State (GA) | 82 | |
| Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 103 | Albany State (GA) | Albany State (GA) | 82 | Albany State (GA) | Albany State (GA) | 83 |
| Hartwick | Hartwick | 79 | | | | Assumption | Assumption | 99 |
| Hartwick | Hartwick | 79 | Assumption | Assumption | 107 | Assumption | Assumption | 99 |
| | | | Hartwick | Hartwick | 91 | | | |
Jake Jones of Assumption was named most valuable player.
The tournament All-Star team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Jake Jones, Assumption
* Sam Small, Assumption
* Serge DeBari, Assumption
* Clarence Ellis, Albany State (GA)
* Phil Harlow, Le Moyne

### 1970

References:
| Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 78 | | | |
| | | | Hobart | Hobart | 71 | |
| Hobart | Hobart | 57 | Hobart | Hobart | 71 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 75 |
| Boston University | Boston University | 63 | | | | Lafayette | Lafayette | 89 |
| Boston University | Boston University | 63 | Lafayette | Lafayette | 86 | Lafayette | Lafayette | 89 |
| | | | Boston University | Boston University | 61 | | | |
Tracy Tripucka of Lafayette was named most valuable player.
The tournament All-Star team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Tracy Tripucka, Lafayette
* Ron Moyer, Lafayette
* Jay Mottola, Lafayette
* Phil Harlow, Le Moyne
* Dan Brandt, Le Moyne

### 1971

References:
| Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 95 | | | |
| | | | Alfred | Alfred | 56 | |
| Alfred | Alfred | 51 | Alfred | Alfred | 56 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 61 |
| Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 75 | | | | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | 58 |
| Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 75 | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | 60 | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | 58 |
| | | | Ohio Wesleyan | Ohio Wesleyan | 57 | | | |
Phil Harlow of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The tournament All-Star team selected by members of the media covering the tournament included:
* Phil Harlow, Le Moyne
* Rick May, Le Moyne
* Dave Pemberton, New Hampshire
* Erie Feragne, New Hampshire
* Jackie Brown, Ohio Wesleyan

### 1973

References:
| Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Third Place December 29 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Semifinals December 28 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 | Championship December 29 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 95 | | | |
| | | | Hamilton | Hamilton | 68 | |
| Hamilton | Hamilton | 78 | Hamilton | Hamilton | 68 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 74 |
| Catholic | Catholic | 90 | | | | Potsdam State | Potsdam State | 78 |
| Catholic | Catholic | 90 | Potsdam State | Potsdam State | 72 | Potsdam State | Potsdam State | 78 |
| | | | Catholic | Catholic | 62 | | | |
Ted Bence of Potsdam State was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Ted Bence, Potsdam State
* Mike Deane, Potsdam State
* Bob Braunitzer, Le Moyne
* Rick May, Le Moyne
* Mark Badger, Hamilton

### 1974

References:
| Third Place December 28 | Third Place December 28 | Third Place December 28 | Semifinals December 27 | Semifinals December 27 | Semifinals December 27 | Championship December 28 | Championship December 28 | Championship December 28 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 78 | | | |
| | | | Muhlenberg | Muhlenberg | 68 | |
| Muhlenberg | Muhlenberg | 86 | Muhlenberg | Muhlenberg | 68 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 57 |
| Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 92 | | | | Hartwick | Hartwick | 69 |
| Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 92 | Hartwick | Hartwick | 100 | Hartwick | Hartwick | 69 |
| | | | Saint Michael's | Saint Michael's | 70 | | | |
Reggie Rothwell of Hartwick was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Reggie Rothwell, Hartwick
* Bill Martin, Hartwick
* Pete Hogan, Le Moyne
* John Lauer, Le Moyne
* Ken Johnson, Saint Michael's

### 1975

References:
| Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Third Place December 30 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Semifinals December 29 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 | Championship December 30 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 91 | | | |
| | | | Lincoln (PA) | Lincoln (PA) | 68 | |
| Lincoln (PA) | Lincoln (PA) | 69 | Lincoln (PA) | Lincoln (PA) | 68 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 81 |
| Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 74 | | | | Bloomsburg State | Bloomsburg State | 69 |
| Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 74 | Bloomsburg State | Bloomsburg State | 90 | Bloomsburg State | Bloomsburg State | 69 |
| | | | Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 80 | | | |
John Lauer of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* John Lauer, Le Moyne
* Gary Jackson, Le Moyne
* Jerry Radocha, Bloomsburg State
* Harold Driver, Quinnipiac
* Isaac Cahoe, Lincoln (PA)

### 1984

References:
| Third Place January 11 | Third Place January 11 | Third Place January 11 | Semifinals January 10 | Semifinals January 10 | Semifinals January 10 | Championship January 11 | Championship January 11 | Championship January 11 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 78 | | | |
| | | | Concordia (NY) | Concordia (NY) | 61 | |
| Concordia (NY) | Concordia (NY) | 70 | Concordia (NY) | Concordia (NY) | 61 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 58 |
| C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 79 | | | | Mansfield | Mansfield | 85 |
| C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 79 | Mansfield | Mansfield | 56 | Mansfield | Mansfield | 85 |
| | | | C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 55 | | | |
Craig Cooley of Mansfield was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Craig Cooley, Mansfield
* Gerard Conyers, Mansfield
* James Henderson, Le Moyne
* Bobby Chestnut, Le Moyne
* Mike Clark, C.W. Post
* Keith Brown, Concordia (NY)

### January 1985

References:
| Third Place January 5 | Third Place January 5 | Third Place January 5 | Semifinals January 4 | Semifinals January 4 | Semifinals January 4 | Championship January 5 | Championship January 5 | Championship January 5 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 56 | | | |
| | | | Queens | Queens | 50 | |
| Queens | Queens | 64 | Queens | Queens | 50 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 65 |
| Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 63 | | | | Clarion | Clarion | 55 |
| Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 63 | Clarion | Clarion | 61 | Clarion | Clarion | 55 |
| | | | Quinnipiac | Quinnipiac | 57 | | | |
Wright Lassiter of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.

### December 1985

References:
| Third Place December 14 | Third Place December 14 | Third Place December 14 | Semifinals December 13 | Semifinals December 13 | Semifinals December 13 | Championship December 14 | Championship December 14 | Championship December 14 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 83 | | | |
| | | | Pace | Pace | 48 | |
| Pace | Pace | 57 | Pace | Pace | 48 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 74 |
| C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 81 | | | | Slippery Rock | Slippery Rock | 67 |
| C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 81 | Slippery Rock | Slippery Rock | 75 | Slippery Rock | Slippery Rock | 67 |
| | | | C.W. Post | C.W. Post | 64 | | | |

### 1986

References:
| Third Place December 13 | Third Place December 13 | Third Place December 13 | Semifinals December 12 | Semifinals December 12 | Semifinals December 12 | Championship December 13 | Championship December 13 | Championship December 13 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 78 | | | |
| | | | Bloomfield | Bloomfield | 56 | |
| Bloomfield | Bloomfield | 59 | Bloomfield | Bloomfield | 56 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 74 |
| Lock Haven | Lock Haven | 82 | | | | Mount St. Mary's | Mount St. Mary's | 75 |
| Lock Haven | Lock Haven | 82 | Mount St. Mary's | Mount St. Mary's | 95 | Mount St. Mary's | Mount St. Mary's | 75 |
| | | | Lock Haven | Lock Haven | 90 | | | |
Paul Edwards of Mount St. Mary's was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Paul Edwards, Mount St. Mary's
* Mark Scallion, Mount St. Mary's
* John Moore, Mount St. Mary's
* James Henderson, Le Moyne
* Scott Hicks, Le Moyne
* Jeff Null, Lock Haven

### 1987

References:
| Third Place December 12 | Third Place December 12 | Third Place December 12 | Semifinals December 11 | Semifinals December 11 | Semifinals December 11 | Championship December 12 | Championship December 12 | Championship December 12 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 87 | | | |
| | | | Southampton | Southampton | 77 | |
| Southampton | Southampton | 56 | Southampton | Southampton | 77 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 92 |
| Mansfield | Mansfield | 85 | | | | Keene State | Keene State | 60 |
| Mansfield | Mansfield | 85 | Keene State | Keene State | 91 | Keene State | Keene State | 60 |
| | | | Mansfield | Mansfield | 84 | | | |
Pete Jerebko of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Pete Jerebko, Le Moyne
* Scott Hicks, Le Moyne
* Russell Barnes, Le Moyne
* Steve Kaufman, Keene State
* Garrett Broderick, Mansfield
* Daryl Cambrelen, Southampton

### 1988

References:
| Third Place December 10 | Third Place December 10 | Third Place December 10 | Semifinals December 9 | Semifinals December 9 | Semifinals December 9 | Championship December 10 | Championship December 10 | Championship December 10 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 84 | | | |
| | | | Dowling | Dowling | 70 | |
| Dowling | Dowling | 71 | Dowling | Dowling | 70 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 65 |
| Lowell | Lowell | 90 | | | | Cheyney | Cheyney | 64 |
| Lowell | Lowell | 90 | Cheyney | Cheyney | 69 | Cheyney | Cheyney | 64 |
| | | | Lowell | Lowell | 52 | | | |

### 1989

References:
| Third Place December 9 | Third Place December 9 | Third Place December 9 | Semifinals December 8 | Semifinals December 8 | Semifinals December 8 | Championship December 9 | Championship December 9 | Championship December 9 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 87 | | | |
| | | | Davis & Elkins | Davis & Elkins | 34 | |
| Davis & Elkins | Davis & Elkins | 79 | Davis & Elkins | Davis & Elkins | 34 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 80 |
| California (PA) | California (PA) | 100 | | | | Sacred Heart | Sacred Heart | 72 |
| California (PA) | California (PA) | 100 | Sacred Heart | Sacred Heart | 83 | Sacred Heart | Sacred Heart | 72 |
| | | | California (PA) | California (PA) | 67 | | | |
Len Rauch of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Len Rauch, Le Moyne
* Julius Edwards, Le Moyne
* Todd Williams, Sacred Heart
* Sean Williams, Sacred Heart
* Timmy Brown, California (PA)

### 1990

References:
| Third Place December 8 | Third Place December 8 | Third Place December 8 | Semifinals December 7 | Semifinals December 7 | Semifinals December 7 | Championship December 8 | Championship December 8 | Championship December 8 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 81 | | | |
| | | | Southampton | Southampton | 67 | |
| Southampton | Southampton | 74 | Southampton | Southampton | 67 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 72 |
| Wheeling Jesuit | Wheeling Jesuit | 62 | | | | West Chester | West Chester | 65 |
| Wheeling Jesuit | Wheeling Jesuit | 62 | West Chester | West Chester | 84 | West Chester | West Chester | 65 |
| | | | Wheeling Jesuit | Wheeling Jesuit | 66 | | | |
Tom Herhusky of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Tom Herhusky, Le Moyne
* Len Rauch, Le Moyne
* Jon Traywick, West Chester
* Jasen Holness, Southampton
* Dave Ealy, Wheeling Jesuit

### 1991

References:
| Third Place December 7 | Third Place December 7 | Third Place December 7 | Semifinals December 6 | Semifinals December 6 | Semifinals December 6 | Championship December 7 | Championship December 7 | Championship December 7 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 90 | | | |
| | | | Queens | Queens | 50 | |
| Queens | Queens | 69 | Queens | Queens | 50 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 92 |
| Keene State | Keene State | 56 | | | | Mansfield | Mansfield | 69 |
| Keene State | Keene State | 56 | Mansfield | Mansfield | 76 | Mansfield | Mansfield | 69 |
| | | | Keene State | Keene State | 64 | | | |
Tom Herhusky of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Tom Herhusky, Le Moyne
* John Haas, Le Moyne
* Barry Page, Mansfield
* Cory Wright, Queens
* Brian Nash, Keene State

### 1992

References:
| Third Place December 12 | Third Place December 12 | Third Place December 12 | Semifinals December 11 | Semifinals December 11 | Semifinals December 11 | Championship December 12 | Championship December 12 | Championship December 12 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 84 | | | |
| | | | Hilbert | Hilbert | 51 | |
| Hilbert | Hilbert | 76 | Hilbert | Hilbert | 51 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 90 |
| Kutztown | Kutztown | 67 | | | | Pitt-Johnstown | Pitt-Johnstown | 75 |
| Kutztown | Kutztown | 67 | Pitt-Johnstown | Pitt-Johnstown | 84 | Pitt-Johnstown | Pitt-Johnstown | 75 |
| | | | Kutztown | Kutztown | 83 | | | |
Mike Montesano of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Mike Montesano, Le Moyne
* Christian Buchholz, Le Moyne
* Derrick Myers, Pitt-Johnstown
* Kareem Allen, Hilbert
* Lock Jennings, Kutztown

### 1993

References:
| Third Place December 11 | Third Place December 11 | Third Place December 11 | Semifinals December 10 | Semifinals December 10 | Semifinals December 10 | Championship December 11 | Championship December 11 | Championship December 11 |
| | | | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 97 | | | |
| | | | Mount Saint Mary (NY) | Mount Saint Mary (NY) | 56 | |
| Mount Saint Mary (NY) | Mount Saint Mary (NY) | 72 | Mount Saint Mary (NY) | Mount Saint Mary (NY) | 56 | Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 90 |
| RPI | RPI | 85 | | | | Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst | 81 |
| RPI | RPI | 85 | Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst | 79 | Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst | 81 |
| | | | RPI | RPI | 74 | | | |
Dan Sandel of Le Moyne was named most valuable player.
The all-tournament team included:
* Dan Sandel, Le Moyne
* Andre Dearing, Le Moyne
* Joe Girard, Le Moyne
* Rashe Reviere, Mercyhurst
* Mauro Oliva, RPI

## Honorees

Le Moyne has 42 men's basketball players, coaches and contributors honored in the Le Moyne Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, two of Le Moyne's teams have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

### Honored players

| Name | Years | Awards and achievements |
| Joe Boehm | 1947–51 | Captain of inaugural 1947–48 freshman team; served as the first arena announcer in the Le Moyne Events Center from 1962 through at least 1976 |
| John Caveny | 1959–62 | Captain of the 1961–62 team, second-team 1961 MECAA All Star |
| Tom Cooney | 1961–64 | 1964 Le Moyne College Athlete of the Year; co-captain and starting point guard on 1964 NCAA tournament team at 5'8"; head coach from 1973 to 1979 |
| Gary DeYulia | 1963–66 | All-MECAA, All-ECAC, First Team Catholic College All-American, Honorable Mention College All-American, played in three NCAA tournaments |
| Bob Dietz | 1953–56 | Scored 1,085 career points |
| Tom Downey | 1967–70 | All-ECAC; starting point guard on 1968 and 1969 NCAA tournament teams; selected All-ECAC College Division East in 1968, All-ECAC College Division in 1969 and 1970, and honorable mention College Division All-American in 1969; captain of 1969–70 team |
| Laurence Ekperigin | 2006–10 | Le Moyne's career scoring and rebounding leader with 1,966 points and 1,171 rebounds; the only Le Moyne player named first team all-conference in three consecutive seasons |
| Tom Fletcher | 1975–79 | Excellent ball handler, who averaged almost 10 points and four rebounds per game; also pitched for Le Moyne's baseball team |
| Paul Galvin | 1980–84 | Le Moyne's all-time leader in career assists with 602 |
| Jene Grey | 1975–79 | 1,729 points and 969 rebounds for his career, both of which ranked him second in program history at the time his collegiate career ended; co-captain during both his junior and senior seasons |
| Don Guido | 1968–69 | Elected primarily for his accomplishments in baseball; played varsity basketball as a sophomore on the 1969 NCAA tournament team |
| Phil Harlow | 1969–73 | Regarded by many as the best player in program history; team captain for three years; ended his career as the program's all-time leading career scorer; scored 41 points on February 18, 1971, to match the program's single-game record; second-team New York State College Division All-Star in 1971 and 1972 1972 ECAC Division II All-Star; named first-team District II All-Star by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. honorable mention for the College Division All-New York State team |
| James Henderson | 1983–87 | 1,554 points, 722 rebounds and 118 blocked shots for his career |
| Scott Hicks | 1984–88 | 1988 Rev. John J. O'Brien Award for Le Moyne College Male Athlete of the Year, All-MECC, All-Northeast Region, Co-Captain, had 1,470 points, 627 rebounds, 320 assists and 178 steals for his career, head coach from 1992 to 1997 |
| Billy Jenkins | 1950–53 | Scored 1,063 points in three varsity seasons |
| Pete Jerebko | 1984–88 | 1988 MECC Player of the Year, co-captain of 1987–88 team, 1,736 points, 731 rebounds and 117 steals for his career |
| Dick Kenyon | 1952–56 | 1,378 career points in four varsity seasons |
| Wright Lassiter | 1981–85 | 1985 Rev. J.J. O'Brien Male Senior Athlete Achievement Award, 1,260 points and 895 rebounds for his career |
| John Lauer | 1973–77 | Quiet leader who was also a prolific scorer and rebounder; known to his teammates as "Cakes", was team captain as a senior in 1976–77; finished his career as the program's fourth all-time career scorer |
| Dave Lozo | 1947–51 | Scored 1,100 points for his career |
| Dick Lynch | 1957–60 | 1,150 career points |
| Ronnie Mack | 1954–57 | 1956–57 team captain; 1957 Le Moyne College Athlete of the Year |
| Rick May | 1970–74 | Left the program as its all-time leading rebounder with 1,028, scored 1,224 points for his career, averaged a double-double over his career |
| Mike Montesano | 1991–95 | 1995 Division II All-American, scored 1,759 points for his career, set program single-season point scoring record with 646 in 1994–95 |
| Tom Mullen | 1963–66 | Played in two NCAA tournaments, 1965 and 1966 All-MECAA, led Le Moyne in rebounding 1964–65 and 1965–66, MECAA leading scorer in 1965–66, 1966 ECAC All-Star |
| Dick Myers | 1961–64 | Starter on 1964 NCAA tournament team |
| Flagan Prince | 2001–03 | 2003 All-NE10 First Team, 2003 NABC All-America Honorable Mention, led team in scoring and rebounding in both of his seasons |
| Len Rauch | 1987–91 | 1991 MECC Player of the Year, four-time All-MECC Team, career totals of 1,876 points, 1,151 rebounds and 509 assists |
| Dick Reddington | 1956–57 | Le Moyne College Athletic Achievement Award; elected primarily for his accomplishments as goalkeeper on the soccer team from 1956–59; appeared in games for the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, when the team was shorthanded due to injuries |
| Don Savage | 1947–51 | Three years as varsity team captain, including the 1950–51 team that had a historic turnaround from an 0–5 start to capture third place in the National Catholic Invitational Tournament, Le Moyne's first significant postseason appearance |
| Bill Stanley | 1959–62 | 1961 MECAA All-Star, averaged over 10 rebounds per game at 6'2" |
| Adam Stockwell | 1992–96 | Captain and leading scorer for 1995–96 team that went to NCAA tournament, Division II All-America Honorable Mention, averaged 21.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for his senior season |
| John Tomsich | 1995–99 | 1999 Rev. J.J. O’Brien Senior Athlete Award, 1999 NABC All-America Second Team, led team in scoring each of his last three seasons, career totals of 1,760 points and 1,015 rebounds, left program as leader in career blocked shots with 264, averaged 21.1 points and 11.7 rebounds as a senior, played in two NCAA tournaments |
| Ralph Yahn | 1961–64 | Co-captain and leading rebounder on 1964 NCAA tournament team |

### Honored coaches

| Names | Years | Awards and achievements |
| John Beilein | 1983–1992 | 1988 NCAA tournament appearance, 1988 MECC Coach of the Year, 1984 and 1988 MECC regular-season titles, 1988 MECC tournament title |
| Jim "Duke" McGrath | 1958–1998 | Played on 1958–59 freshman team, graduated in class of 1962, and went on to a storied career as a high school basketball coach; was serving Le Moyne as volunteer assistant coach as of 1998, the time of his Hall of Fame induction |
| Tommy Niland | 1947–1990 | Le Moyne's first varsity head coach, first freshman team head coach and first athletic director, coached varsity team for 25 seasons, program's all-time leader in wins as a head coach with 324 and NCAA tournament appearances with seven, also served Le Moyne as varsity baseball head coach |

### Others honored

| Name | Years | Notes |
| 1959–60 Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball team | 1959–60 | Earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, finishing with a 13–5 record, won Le Moyne's first MECAA championship |
| 1987–88 Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball team | 1987–88 | Earned Le Moyne's first berth in an NCAA tournament in 19 years, finishing with a 24–6 record, a new high win total for the program, won MECC regular-season and tournament championships |
| Don Familo | 1992–present | Color commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio and video streaming broadcasts |
| Chris Granozio | 1992–present | Play-by-play commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio and video streaming broadcasts |
| John "Doc" Joiner | 1977–2015 | Le Moyne employee for 38 years; first athletic trainer from 1977 to 1986; also served as building supervisor for the recreation center, Le Moyne's first athletic equipment manager, transportation coordinator and volunteer strength coach |
| Claude "Red" Parton | 1950–55, 1956–57 | Play-by-play commentator for Le Moyne basketball radio broadcasts |
| Bernie Quinn | 1947–51 | First team manager, including manager of the 1947–48 freshman team, business manager for Le Moyne Athletic Association from 1949 to 1951; served as the first timekeeper in the Le Moyne Events Center from 1962 through at least 1987 |

## Awards

Postseason tournament Most Outstanding Players
* Don Savage – 1950, 1951
* Bill Jenkins – 1952

## Dolphins playing professionally
### Dolphins in the NBA

Dolphins playing in or drafted by the NBA :
| NBA draft selections ||
| Total players selected: | 7 |
| No. 1 picks: | 0 |
| Lottery picks: | 0 |
| First round: | 0 |
| Appeared in NBA games: | 1 |
| Name | Height | Weight (lb) | Hometown | High school | Draft year | Round | NBA team | Played in NBA |
| John Caveny | 6'0" | 180 | Syracuse, New York | St. John the Evangelist High School | 1962 | 12th | St. Louis | |
| Jene Grey | 6'4" | 190 | Brooklyn, New York | Sidney High School | 1979 | 7th | San Diego | |
| Bill Jenkins | 6'0" | 180 | Syracuse, New York | St. Vincent de Paul High School | 1953 | 6th | Syracuse | |
| Dick Kenyon | 6'3" | 170 | Syracuse, New York | East Syracuse High School | 1956 | 12th | Syracuse |
| Dick Lynch | 6'4" | 175 | Fayetteville, New York | Manlius High School | 1960 | 8th | Syracuse | |
| Chuck Sammons | 6'3" | 200 | Syracuse, New York | St. Vincent de Paul High School | 1961 | 11th | Syracuse | |
| Don Savage | 6'3" | 205 | Manlius, New York | Manlius Military Academy | 1951 | 2nd | Syracuse | Y |

### Dolphins currently playing overseas

As of January 29, 2025, three former Le Moyne players are currently playing professionally overseas.
| Le Moyne seasons | Player | Hometown | Team | League |
| 2023–24 | Kaiyem Cleary | Manchester, England | Hyères-Toulon | LNB Pro B |
| 2015–16 to 2017–18 | Tyquan Rolon | Syracuse, New York | Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski | Polska Liga Koszykówki (PLK) |
| 2021–22 to 2023–24 | Luke Sutherland | Syracuse, New York | Landstede Hammers | BNXT League |

## Facilities

The Le Moyne Dolphins have played home games in five different venues, since the inception of the program, and have an all-time home record of 639–282. Le Moyne's home record by venue through the end of the 2024–25 season is summarized as follows:
| Venue | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Pct. |
| State Fair Coliseum | 1948–49 to 1950–51 | 15 | 8 | .652 |
| Onondaga County War Memorial | 1951–52, 1955–56 to 1956–57 | 13 | 13 | .500 |
| North Syracuse High School | 1951–52 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| West Jefferson Street Armory | 1952–53 to 1954–55, 1957–58 to 1961–62 | 57 | 17 | .770 |
| Ted Grant Court at the Le Moyne Events Center | 1962–63 to present | 552 | 243 | .694 |
| Totals | 1948–49 to 2024–25 | 639 | 282 | .694 |

### Le Moyne Events Center (1962–present)

The Le Moyne Dolphins presently play their home games on Ted Grant Court in the 2,637-seat Le Moyne Events Center; the seating capacity for basketball reported to the NCAA is 2,000.
Ground was broken on construction of the Events Center in March 1961, as part of the larger Henninger Athletic Center, and the arena opened on December 1, 1962, with a varsity basketball game featuring Le Moyne versus archrival Siena. The varsity game against Siena was the nightcap of a doubleheader that opened with Le Moyne's freshman team defeating Powelson Business Institute, 65–47. The arena underwent a significant renovation in 2016, and reopened on October 12 of that year.
The Events Center hosted regional games of the 1965, 1966, 1969 and 2018 NCAA College Division/Division II tournaments.