List of Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball seasons

For Le Moyne's current season, see 2024–25 Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball team.

The men's basketball team of Le Moyne College is referred to as the Le Moyne Dolphins, and they play in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the Northeast Conference (NEC). 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 played their first basketball game at home on December 7, 1948, a 41–39 loss to Siena. Le Moyne's first victory came on the road at Hobart in the Dolphins' second game.

In 1950, Le Moyne became a charter member of the Eastern Catholic Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (ECIAC).[1] 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.[2]

In 1955, Le Moyne became a charter member of the new Middle Eastern College Athletic Association (MECAA).[3] The MECAA included teams that were also members of other conferences, a practice not uncommon at the time. When the NCAA split its members into the College Division and University Division in 1956,[4] the MECAA included four teams (St. Francis (NY), Iona, St. Bonaventure and Siena) that were placed into the University Division, while Le Moyne and Saint Peter's were placed into the College Division. St. Francis was also a member of the Metropolitan New York Conference, and St. Bonaventure was also a member of the Western New York Little Three Conference. Nevertheless, all six schools initially continued their affiliation with the MECAA after the split. Le Moyne remained a member of the MECAA, until it was dissolved following the 1975–76 season. The MECAA awarded its championship based on regular-season winning percentage and did not conduct a post-season tournament. The Dolphins took the title seven times during their 21 seasons of membership, the most championships of any conference member. Since conference membership crossed NCAA divisions, the MECAA champion was not awarded an automatic bid to any NCAA tournament. In December 1960, the MECAA conducted an in-season Christmas tournament that included five of its six teams as well as three non-members. Le Moyne defeated Saint Peter's, Iona and Long Island to win the tournament title.

Le Moyne became a Division II institution, when the College Division was split in 1973. Following the dissolution of the MECAA, the Dolphins played as an independent until joining the Mideast Collegiate Conference (MECC) in 1983, and remained a member of that conference until it 1991. Le Moyne won two MECC regular-season titles and one conference tournament during their eight years in the league.

After playing the 1991–92 season as an independent, Le Moyne joined the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in 1992. The Dolphins won the NECC tournament in 1996, their final season in the league.

In 1996, the Dolphins joined the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10), where they remained until beginning reclassification to Division I as a member of the NEC in 2023. During their 26 seasons over a span of 27 years in the NE10 (the 2020–21 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Le Moyne won four regular-season conference championships and two conference tournaments.

Season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Tommy Niland (Independent) (1948–1950)
1948–49 Tommy Niland 12–7
1949–50 Tommy Niland 10–12 Utica Optimist Club champion
Tommy Niland (Eastern Catholic Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1950–1951)
1950–51 Tommy Niland 17–7 2–3 6th National Catholic Invitational third place
Utica Optimist Club champion
Tommy Niland (Independent) (1951–1955)
1951–52 Tommy Niland 8–15 National Catholic Invitational quarterfinalist
Utica Optimist Club champion
1952–53 Tommy Niland 12–8
1953–54 Tommy Niland 10–6
1954–55 Tommy Niland 11–8
Tommy Niland (Middle Eastern College Athletic Association) (1955–1973)
1955–56 Tommy Niland 15–6 4–2 T–2nd
1956–57 Tommy Niland 10–9 3–4 4th
1957–58 Tommy Niland 11–11 2–5 5th
1958–59 Tommy Niland 18–6 4–1 T–1st[a] NCAA College Division Sweet 16
1959–60 Tommy Niland 13–5 4–1 1st NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
1960–61 Tommy Niland 16–7 2–2 3rd 1960 MECAA Invitational champion[b]
1961–62 Tommy Niland 13–9 4–1 1st
1962–63 Tommy Niland 12–10 3–2 T–3rd
1963–64 Tommy Niland 18–6 4–1 1st NCAA College Division Sweet 16
1964–65 Tommy Niland 18–5 4–1 1st NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
1965–66 Tommy Niland 16–6 4–1 2nd NCAA College Division Regional fifth place
1966–67 Tommy Niland 11–10 1–4 6th
1967–68 Tommy Niland 14–8 2–3 T–3rd NCAA College Division Regional seventh place
1968–69 Tommy Niland 15–8 4–1 T–1st[c] NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
1969–70 Tommy Niland 11–10 2–2 3rd
1970–71 Tommy Niland 9–12 2–3 4th
1971–72 Tommy Niland 13–10 3–2 3rd
1972–73 Tommy Niland 13–9 5–0 1st
Tommy Niland (Pre-division NCAA): 95–69 (.579) 6–5 (.545)
Tommy Niland (College Division): 231–141 (.621) 53–34 (.609)
Tommy Niland: 326–210 (.608) 59–39 (.602)
Tom Cooney (Middle Eastern College Athletic Association) (1973–1976)
1973–74 Tom Cooney 14–10 2–3 T–4th
1974–75 Tom Cooney 14–11 2–3 T–3rd
1975–76 Tom Cooney 12–12 1–4 6th
Tom Cooney (Independent) (1976–1979)
1976–77 Tom Cooney 15–7
1977–78 Tom Cooney 13–13
1978–79 Tom Cooney 14–10
Tom Cooney: 82–63 (.566) 5–10 (.333)
Mike Lee (Independent) (1979–1983)
1979–80 Mike Lee 6–19
1980–81 Mike Lee 5–21
1981–82 Mike Lee 10–15
1982–83 Mike Lee 13–12
Mike Lee: 34–67 (.337) –
John Beilein (Mideast Collegiate Conference) (1983–1991)
1983–84 John Beilein 20–8 5–0 1st
1984–85 John Beilein 19–10 4–6 T–4th[d]
1985–86 John Beilein 14–15 4–6 4th
1986–87 John Beilein 20–10 6–4 T–2nd[e]
1987–88 John Beilein 24–6 8–2 T–1st[f] NCAA Division II Regional third place
1988–89 John Beilein 15–12 6–6 5th
1989–90 John Beilein 17–12 5–7 T–5th[g]
1990–91 John Beilein 19–10 6–4 T–3rd[h]
John Beilein (Independent) (1991–1992)
1991–92 John Beilein 15–11
John Beilein: 163–94 (.634) 44–35 (.557)
Scott Hicks (New England Collegiate Conference) (1992–1996)
1992–93 Scott Hicks 18–10 7–7 T–3rd[i]
1993–94 Scott Hicks 16–11 11–5 3rd
1994–95 Scott Hicks 16–12 9–7 T–3rd
1995–96 Scott Hicks 24–6 16–4 T–2nd NCAA Division II first round
Scott Hicks (Northeast-10 Conference) (1996–1997)
1996–97 Scott Hicks 13–17 7–11 7th NCAA Division II first round
Scott Hicks: 87–56 (.608) 50–34 (.595)
Dave Paulsen (Northeast-10 Conference) (1997–2000)
1997–98 Dave Paulsen 20–8 14–6 T–1st[j]
1998–99 Dave Paulsen 13–14 8–10 T–6th
1999–00 Dave Paulsen 9–17 2–16 10th
Dave Paulsen: 42–39 (.519) 24–32 (.429)
Steve Evans (Northeast-10 Conference) (2000–2015)
2000–01 Steve Evans 5–21 2–20 15th
2001–02 Steve Evans 11–16 7–15 T–11th
2002–03 Steve Evans 17–12 12–10 T–6th
2003–04 Steve Evans 17–11 14–8 T–4th
2004–05 Steve Evans 11–17 9–13 T–9th
2005–06 Steve Evans 12–16 7–15 12th
2006–07 Steve Evans 14–15 10–12 T–9th
2007–08 Steve Evans 15–14 12–10 T–5th
2008–09 Steve Evans 20–11 13–9 6th
2009–10 Steve Evans 18–10 14–8 T–4th
2010–11 Steve Evans 12–15 10–12 T–8th
2011–12 Steve Evans 12–14 8–14 T–13th
2012–13 Steve Evans 13–14 10–12 T–8th
2013–14 Steve Evans 17–12 13–7 3rd
Southwest		 NCAA Division II first round
2014–15 Steve Evans 16–13 10–10 T–3rd
Southwest
Steve Evans: 210–211 (.499) 151–175 (.463)
Patrick Beilein (Northeast-10 Conference) (2015–2019)
2015–16 Patrick Beilein 10–17 7–13 T–4th
Southwest
2016–17 Patrick Beilein 22–7 16–4 1st[k]
Southwest		 NCAA Division II first round
2017–18 Patrick Beilein 27–7 18–2 1st[k]
Southwest		 NCAA Division II Elite Eight
2018–19 Patrick Beilein 18–10 14–6 1st
Southwest		 NCAA Division II first round
Patrick Beilein: 77–41 (.653) 55–25 (.688)
Nate Champion (Northeast-10 Conference) (2019–2023)
2019–20 Nate Champion 19–9 15–4 1st[k]
Southwest		 Selected as No. 5 seed in East Region
No postseason held (COVID-19 pandemic).
2020–21 Nate Champion 0–0 0–0 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic).
2021–22 Nate Champion 12–15 8–11 5th
Southwest
2022–23 Nate Champion 15–15 11–9 T–5th
Nate Champion (Northeast Conference) (2023–present)
2023–24 Nate Champion 15–17 9–7 T-4th
Nate Champion (Division II): 46–39 (.541) 34–24 (.586)
Nate Champion (Division I): 15–17 (.469) 9–7 (.563)
Nate Champion: 61–56 (.521) 43–31 (.581)
ECIAC: 2–3 (.400)
MECAA: 62–46 (.574)
MECC: 44–35 (.557)
NECC: 43–23 (.652)
NE10: 271–267 (.504)
NEC: 9–7 (.563)
Pre-division NCAA: 95–69 (.579) 6–5 (.545)
Division II[l]: 972–751 (.564) 416–369 (.530)
Division I: 15–17 (.469) 9–7 (.563)
Major program[m]: 110–86 (.561) 15–12 (.556)
Total: 1,082–837
(.564)		 431–381
(.531)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Notes
  1. ^ Le Moyne finished tied with Iona. Le Moyne lost the only head-to-head matchup, 58–54, at Iona on February 14, 1959. Nevertheless, the MECAA recognized both teams as co-champions.[5]
  2. ^ Up until the 1959–60 season, some MECAA teams had not played full round-robin conference schedules, and others played each league opponent with home-and-home series versus some but not all conference members. The uneven scheduling created controversy about which team deserved the league's championship, in cases in which the title had been decided in favor of a team that had scheduled one extra or one fewer game, since the conference champion was the team with the best winning percentage against conference opponents. In part to address this perceived inequity, the MECAA planned to stage this tournament annually in December to determine a champion with all conference teams on equal footing. The MECAA had six members at the time: Le Moyne, St. Francis (NY), Iona, King's, Saint Peter's and Siena. King's was not eligible for the 1960–61 regular-season MECAA championship, since it joined the conference in June 1960, and was able to schedule only three games against league members; King's did not participate in the 1960 MECAA tournament. Therefore, three other teams (Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island and Wagner) were invited to create a full eight-team bracket and ensure the tournament champion would need to win three games. Despite the initial plans, the 1960 tournament was the only one the MECAA ever held. The tournament was unique, because it can be differentiated from a conference tournament, since it was not held at the end of the season and included non-member teams. It also does not resemble an in-season multiple-team event, since five of the six MECAA teams participated rather than limiting tournament entries to one team per conference.
  3. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for first place with Saint Peter's and won the head-to-head matchup, 81–80, on December 3, 1968. Nevertheless, the MECAA recognized both teams as co-champions.[6]
  4. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for fourth place with Adelphi. The teams split their regular-season head-to-head matchups with Adelphi winning at home, 68–60, on January 26, 1985, and Le Moyne winning at home, 93–65, on February 9, 1985. Le Moyne was awarded the no. 4 seed in the conference tournament, based on a better overall record.
  5. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for second place with Saint Michael's. The teams split their regular-season head-to-head matchups with Le Moyne winning at home, 87–81, on January 17, 1987, and Saint Michael's winning at home, 97–82, on February 7, 1987. Both teams were 0–2 versus first-place Gannon. Saint Michael's was awarded the no. 2 seed in the conference tournament, based on a 2–0 record versus fourth-place Pace, compared with the 1–1 record of Le Moyne, which was the no. 3 seed.
  6. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for first place with Gannon and lost both regular-season head-to-head matchups, 87–85, in overtime at home on January 23, 1988, and 77–66, on the road on February 27, 1988. Both teams were recognized as regular-season co-champions. Gannon was seeded first in the MECC tournament.
  7. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for fourth place with Buffalo and lost both regular-season head-to-head matchups, 70–59, at home on January 6, 1990, and 71–62, on the road on February 15, 1990. Adelphi finished in third place but was ineligible for postseason play. Buffalo was awarded the no. 3 seed in the conference tournament, and Le Moyne was the no. 4 seed.
  8. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for third place with Gannon. The teams split their regular-season head-to-head matchups with Gannon winning at home, 87–84, in overtime on January 26, 1991, and Le Moyne winning at home, 97–75, on February 4, 1991. Philadelphia Textile and Pace finished tied for first place. Le Moyne and Gannon were each 1–1 versus Pace. Le Moyne was awarded the no. 3 seed based on a 1–1 record versus Phildelphia Textile, compared with the 0–2 record of Gannon, which was the no. 4 seed.
  9. ^ Le Moyne finished tied for third place with UMass Lowell. The teams split their regular-season head-to-head matchups with UMass Lowell winning on the road, 71–68, on January 9, 1993, and Le Moyne winning on the road, 75–74, on February 21, 1993. Le Moyne was awarded the no. 3 seed in the conference tournament, based on a 1–1 record versus first-place New Hampshire College, compared with the 0–2 record of UMass Lowell, which was the no. 4 seed.
  10. ^ Finished tied with Assumption and Stonehill and were seeded third in conference tournament based on tiebreaker procedure. The NE10 recognizes all three teams as regular-season conference co-champions.
  11. ^ a b c Had best regular-season conference record of all NE10 teams, regardless of division.
  12. ^ Includes College Division from 1956 to 1973.
  13. ^ Includes pre-division NCAA seasons through 1955–56 and Division I seasons. The Associated Press (AP) began publishing separate rankings of major programs and small colleges during the 1947–48 season, and the NCAA recognizes this differentiation. Le Moyne was included in the small college poll from the inception of its varsity program. Nevertheless, Le Moyne played a schedule that included a significant number of major program opponents from the 1948–49 season through the 1955–56 season. Of the 164 collegiate contests played by Le Moyne over those eight seasons, 59 (36%) of them featured opponents that were classified as major programs by the AP. Le Moyne was 20–39 in those 59 games, including 5–5 in 1954–55, when 10 (53%) of their 19 games were against major programs and 5–4 in 1955–56, when nine (43%) of their 21 games were against major programs. Also, during those eight seasons, Le Moyne participated in two prestigious National Catholic Invitational Tournaments, a tournament that included both major programs and small colleges.

Postseason results

The NCAA tournament started in 1939, and the number of teams invited to participate has expanded a number of times over the years. Between 1939 and 1950, the tournament had only eight teams, and then, between 1951 and 1956, the number of participants varied between 16 and 25 teams. Le Moyne was never selected to participate in the tournament prior to the split of the NCAA into divisions.

The first College Division tournament was held in 1957, and Le Moyne was first selected to participate in 1959. The College Division tournament became the Division II tournament in 1974. Le Moyne participated in the tournament 14 times between 1957 and 2023.

Since Le Moyne started its transition to Division I in 2023, it will become eligible to be selected or qualify for the Division I tournament starting in 2028, after its four-year transition period has been completed. As of 2025, 68 teams participate in the tournament each year.

The National Invitation Tournament (NIT), meanwhile, began in 1938, with only six teams. It expanded several times, reaching a peak of 40 participating teams between 2002 and 2006. After the split of the NCAA into divisions, the NIT had no rule that prevented College Division (or, later, Division II or Division III) teams from participating. In fact, Southern Illinois won the 1967 NIT in their final season as a College Division team. Nevertheless, after 1967, all NIT participants have been either University Division or Division I teams. Starting in 2006, the first year the NIT was operated by the NCAA, only Division I teams may be invited to the NIT. Le Moyne has never been invited to participate in the NIT. The Dolphins may not be selected to play in the NIT until 2028, when their transition period will have been completed. The NIT includes 32 teams per tournament as of 2025.

The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) are postseason tournaments that select Division I teams that are not participating in either the NCAA tournament or the NIT. The College Basketball Crown (CBC) is a postseason tournament that selects teams not participating in the NCAA tournament and may also extend invitations to teams that have qualified or been selected for the NIT. Since the CBC, CBI and CIT are not operated by the NCAA, they may invite transitioning Division I teams to participate, and Le Moyne was eligible starting with the 2024 postseason. In the past, both the CBI and the CIT have extended invitations to transitioning teams.

Tournament Seed Results Ref.
1950
Utica Optimist Club tournament 		Utica Optimist Club champion
Won Semifinal vs. Brockport State, 67–60
Won Final vs. Utica, 59–57 		[7]
1951
Utica Optimist Club tournament 		Utica Optimist Club champion
Won Semifinal vs. Utica, 86–69
Won Final vs. Hartwick, 86–65 		[8]
1951
National Catholic Invitational tournament 		National Catholic Invitational third place
Won First Round vs. Saint Michael's, 95–57
Won Quarterfinal vs. Siena, 57–53
Lost Semifinal vs. St. Francis (NY), 66–84
Won Third-Place Game vs. Mount St. Mary's, 63–61 		[9]
1952
Utica Optimist Club tournament 		Utica Optimist Club champion
Won Semifinal vs. Utica, 72–42
Won Final vs. Hartwick, 72–61 		[10]
1952
National Catholic Invitational tournament 		National Catholic Invitational quarterfinalist
Won First Round vs. Providence, 67–63
Lost Quarterfinal vs. St. Francis (NY), 61–75 		[11]
1959
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Sweet 16
Won Regional Semifinal vs. Williams, 72–66
Lost Sweet 16 vs. Saint Michael's, 70–71 		[12]: 26 
1960
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
Lost Regional Semifinal vs. St. Anselm, 75–108
Lost Regional Third-Place Game vs. Assumption, 68–94 		[12]: 26 
1964
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Sweet 16
Won Regional Semifinal vs. Youngstown State, 64–53
Lost Sweet 16 vs. Akron, 38–62 		[12]: 26 
1965
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
Lost Regional Semifinal vs. Assumption, 58–76
Lost Regional Third-Place Game vs. Hartwick, 68–70 		[12]: 26 
1966
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Regional fifth place
Lost First Round vs. Philadelphia Textile, 61–83
Won Consolation Game vs. Potsdam State, 86–63 		[12]: 26 
1968
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Regional seventh place
Lost First Round vs. Buffalo State, 66–83
Lost Consolation Game vs. Northeastern, 54–67 		[12]: 27 
1969
NCAA College Division tournament 		NCAA College Division Regional fourth place
Lost Regional Semifinal vs. Montclair State, 77–81
Lost Regional Third-Place Game vs. Albany State (NY), 70–71 		[13][14]
1988
NCAA Division II tournament 		3 NCAA Division II Regional third place
Lost Regional Semifinal vs. California (PA), 88–91
Won Regional Third-Place Game vs. Kutztown, 89–81 		[12]: 29 
1996
NCAA Division II tournament 		5 NCAA Division II first round
Lost First Round vs. Franklin Pierce, 53–83 		[12]: 29 
1997
NCAA Division II tournament 		6 NCAA Division II first round
Lost First Round vs. Saint Rose, 76–92 		[12]: 30 
2014
NCAA Division II tournament 		6 NCAA Division II first round
Lost First Round vs. Saint Anselm, 62–73
2017
NCAA Division II tournament 		1 NCAA Division II first round
Lost First Round vs. Merrimack, 68–72OT
2018
NCAA Division II tournament 		1 NCAA Division II Elite Eight
Won First Round vs. Jefferson, 75–57
Won Regional Semifinal vs. Saint Rose, 67–63
Won Sweet 16 vs. Bloomfield, 75–59
Lost Elite Eight vs. West Texas A&M, 73–87
2019
NCAA Division II tournament 		3 NCAA Division II first round
Lost First Round vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, 59–61

References

General
  • "Le Moyne College Men's Basketball All-time Game Results". Le Moyne Dolphins. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  • Van Valkenberg, James M. (March 4, 1992). "The Bevo Francis Rule" (PDF). The NCAA News. p. 11. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  • "NE10 Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Northeast-10 Conference. 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  • "Siena Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Siena College. 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
Specific
  1. ^ "Le Moyne is Founder-Member of E.C.I.A.C. As 1950–51 Conference Plans are Charted" (PDF). The Dolphin. September 20, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Butler, Jack (March 8, 1952). "Scholastic Slants". The Tablet. Brooklyn, New York. p. 18. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "New Loop". Daily News. New York. June 4, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Hicks, Jay (August 20, 1956). "NCAA Group Opens Talks on Money Aid to Players". Kingsport Times. Kingsport, Tennessee. p. 7. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "One-Point Win for MECAA Tie". The Tablet. Brooklyn, New York. March 7, 1959. p. 18. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "St. Peter's Five Wallops Siena". The Troy Record. Troy, New York. March 5, 1969. p. 24. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Varsity Climaxes Season with Tourney Victory at Utica" (PDF). The Dolphin. March 22, 1950. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Hickey, Bill (March 21, 1951). "Dolphin Sportlights" (PDF). The Dolphin. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Dolphins Place Third in Catholic Tourney" (PDF). The Dolphin. March 21, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Dolphins Win Utica Tourney" (PDF). The Dolphin. March 13, 1952. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 9, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Terriers Top Dolphins in NCIT" (PDF). The Dolphin. March 28, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Division II Men's Basketball Championship (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2010. pp. 26–27, 29–30. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "LeMoyne Bows to Montclair in Tourney, 81–77". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. March 8, 1969. p. 11. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Montclair State Easily Wins NCAA College Division Title". The Daily Messenger. Canandaiga, New York. March 10, 1969. p. 7. Retrieved May 4, 2024.