MEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF FOUR STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR 2012-13 SEASON

Syracuse, N.Y. – Le Moyne College head men's basketball coach Steve Evans announced on Monday the addition of four student-athletes for the 2012-13 season. The class consists of guards Naté Gause (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie/Quinnipiac), Pat McGuinness (New City, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) and Qwadere Lovell (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) and forward Connor Mahoney (Hanover, Mass./Brooks School).

Natè Gause

Qwadere Lovell

Pat McGuinness

Connor Mahoney

"I am thrilled about this recruiting class," said Evans, who has posted 164 wins in 12 years in charge of the Dolphins. "I believe this is a group of individuals who have the potential to fit in well with our existing talent and help propel our program forward. Incoming freshmen; Pat McGuinness, Qwadere Lovell and Connor Mahoney, along with sophomore transfer Natè Gause are excited about joining our returning players and our program's pursuit to compete in the NCAA Tournament. It has been three years since our last opportunity to contend in the Northeast-10 Conference championship game and our future has definitely improved by the decision these young men have made in becoming Dolphins!"

Gause, a 6-foot-3 rising sophomore, spent last year at Quinnipiac University and joins the Dolphins with three years of eligibility remaining. With the Bobcats, Gause appeared in 22 games off the bench as Quinnipiac went 18-14 and appeared in the College Basketball Invitational. He registered 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per contest. He reached double-figures in three games, including a season-best 14 at American University on November 22. As a senior at Poughkeepsie High School, Gause was named the Poughkeepsie Journal Player of the Year after averaging 23 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game for the 21-1 Pioneers, while earning all-league, all-section and all-state honors.

Lovell, a 6-foot guard, joins the Dolphins after a successful career at Mount Vernon High School. A team captain, Lovell averaged 11 points per game in leading the Knights to a 23-3 record and the 2012 New York State Class AA Championship. As a junior, Lovell and the Knights won the New York Federation Championship after capturing the New York State title.

McGuinness, a 5-foot-10 guard, comes to Le Moyne after leading Albertus Magnus High School to back-to-back Section 1 Class B championships. A member of the Section I Championship All-Tournament team in 2011 and 2012, McGuinness averaged 12 points and six assists per game as a senior. An all-state, all-section and all-conference honoree in 2011 and 2012, McGuinness averaged 17 points, six rebounds and five assists per game as a junior.

Mahoney, a 6-foot-5 forward, comes to Le Moyne after graduating from the North Andover, Massachusetts-based Brooks School. As a senior, Mahoney averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game as a captain, while earning Independent School League Honorable Mention accolades. In his first year at Brooks after transferring from BC High, Mahoney earned All-ISL honors after leading the Bishops to a 21-3 record and a semifinal appearance in the New England Prep tournament. Mahoney averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds in his junior year at BC High, including a 36-point, 15-rebound performance against Springfield Cathedral and a 28-point, 19-rebound, eight-block, five-assist performance in a 91-90 overtime win over West Roxbury.

Le Moyne, which returns nine letterwinners, finished the 2011-12 season with a 12-14 record, including a mark of 8-14 in the Northeast-10 Conference.

2012-13 Le Moyne College Men's Basketball Signings
Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (High School/Previous School)
Naté Gause, So., G, 6-3, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Poughkeepsie HS/Quinnipiac University)
Qwadere Lovell, Fr., G, 6-0, Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Mount Vernon)
Pat McGuinness, Fr., G, 5-10, New City, N.Y. (Albertus Magnus)
Connor Mahoney, Fr., F, 6-5, Hanover, Mass. (BC High/Brooks School)

Pronunciations
Naté Gause – Nah-tay Gauze
Qwadere – Kwa-deer