Riverdale, NY - The University of Mount Saint Vincent extended their playoff streak to three straight seasons, as their 8-8 Skyline Conference record was good enough for the seventh spot out of eight teams to compete for the Skyline Conference crown. It'll also be the fourth time head coach James Mooney has clinched a playoff berth in his six seasons at the helm of the program.
It did take a winter break turnaround to right the ship. The Dolphins kicked off the season with a 1-8 record, including dropping their first conference contest. But a trip to Massachusetts over the holiday break not only brought the team together, but also forged the playoff push that fans saw take place the rest of the regular season. The Dolphins would rattle off three straight Skyline wins against Sarah Lawrence, Old Westbury and Manhattanville, propelling them to play .500 ball the rest of the way.
Their biggest victory of the season happened to come against their first-round opponents in Yeshiva.
The Dolphins snapped an 11 game losing streak that began in the early months of 2018, defeating the Maccabees by the score of 82-74. The matchup saw guards Kevin Agyemang and Joshua Cabezudo explode for 24 and 23 points, respectively, while DJ Tucker and Alex Chi also finished in double figures in the win.
Speaking of the aforementioned players, Mooney's roster has tightened over the course of the season, giving his everyday rotation a chance to find their respective roles and fit into the game plan in an effective way. Cabezudo - who took home Second Team All Conference honors last season - returned for his final year in Riverdale as the team's top dog, and proved why he earned that title throughout the year. The lead guard once again led the Dolphins with 15 points per game on an even 50% field goal percentage while also grabbing over six boards per game as well. Kevin Agyemang, the junior transfer from Dracut, Massachusetts, turned it on in the second half of the season, scoring 15 or more points in six of his last 10 games, including three games with over 20 points scored.
DJ Tucker initiated the transition game all year long, leading the team in both rebounds and assists while also continuously pushing the pace. The combo forward from Boynton Beach, Florida also finished second in scoring while recording nearly two steals per game, also a team-high. Returners Adrian Rraci, Jalen Lewis and Gerard Novello each brought different elements to games that made a positive impact, whether it was as starters or off the bench.
Mooney's freshmen class has also been a driving force behind the team's success. Guard Connor Wein developed into a reliable scorer, as he completed nine of his 24 games scoring 10 or more points. Both Louis Vidal and Alex Chi did a tremendous job spacing the floor, as both finished with over a 40% three-point field goal percentage, while also bringing physicality on the defensive end.
Tuesday's first round matchup will be inside Furst Gymnasium, with tip-off set for 8:00 PM. You can watch live on UMSVAthletics.com.
