Malcolm Lemmons, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Washington, D.C., came to Niagara during the 2010-11 season and quickly impressed the Purple Eagle coaching staff and fans alike.
During his freshman season, Lemmons saw action in 31 games and quickly became one of Niagara’s go-to players with an average 6.1 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game.
This season, Lemmons continued where he left off, averaging 8.3 points per game and 4.5 average rebounds in 16 games. Lemmons has started the last 12 games after missing 10 straight games due to an illness.
Prior to joining the Purple Eagle squad, Lemmons was a standout star in high school helping lead his Gonzaga College High School team to four-straight Washington D.C. Classic Championships and three-straight Alhambra Tournaments.
Lemmons had offers to play college basketball from multiple schools, but eventually chose to wear the Purple and White of Niagara.
“When I came on my visit I really felt like the coaching staff cared about me and the players were real cool,” Lemmons said. “I felt like I could succeed here. It was my best choice.
The sophomore season for the young Lemmons is quickly coming to a close, but his fondest memory came during his freshman season.
“The Canisius game at home last year was probably my best moment playing here so far.”
That one game brought the Gallagher Center to a standstill. A 65-65 tie between archrivals Niagara and Canisius with .4 seconds left on the clock, which normally would bring on overtime, didn’t quite play out that way. A goaltending call by Canisius gave Niagara the 67-65 win to a stunned crowd of both Niagara and Canisius fans. It is a game that no one will soon forget.
That unforgettable game was also the first Canisius home game for Lemmons. Growing up in Washington D.C. Lemmons admittedly didn’t know a lot about the rivalry. After experiencing that game and this season’s Niagara’s 19-point win at Canisius, Lemmons understands what the meaning behind the Niagara-Canisius rivalry is.
“It’s a great rivalry; it has been going on a long time,” Lemmons stated. “We just want to keep the tradition going and the rivalry to continue.”
Canisius may be the final home game, but the season doesn’t end here for the Purple Eagles. The team will face MAAC opponents Saint Peter’s and Marist before heading to the MAAC Championships in Springfield, Mass. from March 2-5.
Lemmons says the team is preparing by playing hard and practicing even harder.
“We are going out and playing hard every game and just trying to get prepared anyway we can and practice and do whatever coach asks us to do,” Lemmons stated.
Despite begin young and with many opportunities ahead of him, Lemmons is taking it one season at a time.
“Each year I’m just going to try and develop and get better and use whatever experience I gain to help me with the next year,” Lemmons said.
It is clear from his first two seasons at Niagara Lemmons will be a player to watch out for in years to come. As one of the youngest listed teams in the nation, third according to KenPom.com ratings, a combination of Lemmons and the eight other sophomores and freshmen could make the team a force to be reckoned with in the future.
Written by: Brett Baldeck, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
