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| Dino Johnson averaged 11.2 points as a freshman and was the team leader in assists. |
Nigro takes the reigns of the men’s program after a prolific playing career at the Mount. Currently he stands ranked 12th all-time in NCAA Division III career assists with 674 and in assists average at 6.8. He help guide the Dolphins to their last NCAA Tournament appearance in the 1996-97 season.
Coming off a 9-16 overall record a season ago, Mount Saint Vincent returns two of its top three scorers from 2007-08 in senior Joe Cooke (Mount Vernon, NY) and sophomore Dino Johnson (Amsterdam, NY). Cooke led the team last year with 15.0 points per game and also shot just over 40-percent from behind the arc (65-162). Johnson averaged 11.2 points per contest in his rookie campaign and also led the squad in assists with 72. He was named Skyline Rookie of the Week on February 25 last season.
Lost to graduation from last year’s team is four year standout Derek Charlton. Over his career, Charlton finished with 920 points and 552 rebounds. He eclipsed the 500 rebound plateau last season against Maritime on February 2 and his career mark in the category ranks him 10th all-time at the Mount.
Looking to pick up the lost production this season will be returnees Matias Roibal (Boonton, NJ) and co-captain Eric Lastres (Bayside, NY). As a freshman last season, Roibal appeared in 11 games for the Dolphins, while Lastres came off the bench in 23 games for the Mount. Also back for the Dolphins after missing two seasons are Ryan Brunelle (Carmel, NY) and Tyler Muer (Goshen, NY). From 2004-05 through the 2005-06 season, Brunelle saw action in nine games and has averaged just over three points a contest. Muer saw time in 16 games in 2005-06 for the Dolphins.
With only four returning players from last year’s squad, Mount Saint Vincent will rely heavily on production from a number of able newcomers. Nick DiMaggio (Croton, NY) joins the team after transferring in from Union. Last season with the Dutchmen he saw action in 21 games and made 14 starts. He averaged just under eight points a contest and averaged just over two assists per night.
Other newcomers this season include: Brendan Greene (Woodbury, VT/Hazen Union), Joe Ecock (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian), Randy Battle (Bronx, NY/Rice), Keiran Halton (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan), Dwight Dunkley (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman), Dale Johnson (Walpole, MA/Walpole) and Davin Alexander (Bronx, NY/All Hallows).
The season tips-off on Tuesday against the cross town Lightning at the Apex. The game will follow the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. Following the season opener, the Dolphins will head to Clinton, NY to take part in the Hamilton Tip-Off Tournament on November 21-22.
