By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Monday was opening day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball season.
Eight District 2 graduates play or serve as head coach for teams that opened their seasons Monday.
Here is a recap of how each did:
LEO O’BOYLE, LAFAYETTE COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-7 senior forward from Scranton Prep
Monday’s result
Lafayette lost at Miami (Fla.), 67-54.
Individual statistics
Started, played 30 minutes, 2/9 FG, 2/8 on 3-pointers, 2/3 FT, 8 points; 2 offensive, 2 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 3 assists; 2 turnovers.
Note
Lafayette ranked second in the Patriot League last season with 263 three-point shots made. The Leopards bring back some firepower from beyond the arc, led by O’Boyle who made 56 shots from 3-point range.
Up next
Lafayette plays at St. John’s Saturday.
GEORGE TINSLEY, MOUNT ST. MARY’S MEN
6-foot-6 senior forward from Abington Heights
Monday’s result
Mount St. Mary’s lost on the road to West Virginia, 76-58
Individual statistics
Started, played 28 minutes, 1/2 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 1/2 FT, 4 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 blocked shot, 3 steals.
Note
Tinsley started in his first game for Mount St. Mary’s after transferring from Binghamton University.
Up next
Mount St. Mary’s visits Coppin State on Friday.
DA’MIR FAISON, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MEN
6-foot-7 junior forward from Hazleton Area
Monday’s result
Saint Peter’s defeated visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), 73-59
Individual statistics
Came off the bench, played 5 minutes, 0/1 FG, 0/1 FT, 0 points; 3 defensive rebounds.
Note
Faison battled injuries during the 2021-2022 season before coming on strong at the end. He played in 15 games and earned the start in the final three games of the regular season.
Up next
NJIT begins a two-game trip to the West Coast at California Baptist Friday.
ETHAN MEUSER, STONEHILL COLLEGE MEN
6-foot-8 freshman guard from Wyoming Seminary
Monday’s result
Connecticut defeated Stonehill, 85-54, at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
Individual statistics
Came off the bench to play 9 minutes, 0/1 FG, 2/2 FT, 2 points
Notes
Meuser made his way to Stonehill after a year at The Hill School, a prep school in Pottstown. … Stonehill, a 15-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II national tournament qualifier, made its debut on the NCAA Division I level, beginning a four-year process to full membership.
Up next
Stonehill hosts Quinnipiac Thursday.
CECELIA COLLINS, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot sophomore guard from Scranton Prep
Monday’s result
St. Joseph’s defeated visiting Bucknell 66-49.
Individual statistics
Started, played 25 minutes, 2/7 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 5 points; 3 defensive rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals.
Notes
Collins was one of five players selected by coaches for the preseason All-Patriot League team. … Former Delaware Valley High School boys, Lackawanna College men’s, Misericordia University men’s and University of Scranton women’s basketball coach Trevor Woodruff began his fourth season as head coach of the Bison, who are picked fourth in the league.
Up next
Bucknell plays at Virginia Tech Friday
VICTORIA TOOMEY, RIDER UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-2 senior center from Dunmore
Monday’s result
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) defeated host Rider, 68-60.
Individual statistics
Started, played 27 minutes, 4/9 FG, 6/7 FT, 14 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 assist; 2 blocks; 1 steal; 2 turnovers.
Notes
Toomey, named a team captain during the preseason, started all 23 of her games as a sophomore and 10 times as a junior.
Up next
Rider is at Drexel Thursday in a game that will mark Riverside graduate Kylie Lavelle’s college debut for the Dragons.
RACHAEL ROSE, WOFFORD COLLEGE WOMEN
5-foot-7 sophomore guard from Scranton Prep
Monday’s result
Youngstown State defeated visiting Wofford, 81-72.
Individual statistics
Rose started, played 38 minutes, 5/14 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 9/9 on FT, 19 points; 5 defensive rebounds, 6 assists, 0 turnovers, 3 steals
Notes
Rose made her debut at Wofford after earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors last season at the University of South Carolina Upstate. … The first meeting between the two schools represented the closest Wofford comes to northeastern Pennsylvania this season.
Up next
Wofford plays at Clemson Thursday.
BECKY BURKE, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO WOMEN
Head coach from Abington Heights
Monday’s result
Canisius defeated visiting Buffalo, 57-55.
Notes
Burke is in her first season at her second Division I head-coaching assignment after being named Big South Coach of the Year last season at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Up next
Buffalo returns to action on Monday, Nov. 14 at Stonehill.
