BOSTON – Former Northeastern men's basketball star and Varsity Club Hall of Famer James D. Moxley passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 26 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 65.
 
A shooter and scorer prior to the three-point arc, a rebounder where there were 6'5'' rebounders, and a leader for any era, Moxley was inducted into the Northeastern Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1996.
 
Moxley, class of 1973, caught and held the attention of hoop cognoscenti with a magical blend of raw toughness and finesse at the power forward position. An intimidating presence on the boards at 6'5'', he also posed a severe perimeter threat in the pre three-point arc days. He played against the likes of the legendary Julius Irving of UMass as Northeastern evolved from the Division II to the Division I status that it owns today.
 
A native of East Bridgewater, Mass., Moxley played freshman basketball for coach Paul Solberg, two varsity seasons for Richard "Duke" Dukeshire, and his senior season under Jim Bowman, for whom he punctuated an eclectic career performance as a gunner, rebounder and floor general.
 
Moxley nurtured a reputation as a nice guy off the court, perhaps in reaction to his demeanor on it. His elbow, as sharp as his shooting touch, was a critical component of a "pretty" player who often turned into a maniacal rebounding machine.
 
As a sophomore in 1969-70, he earned the Most Valuable Player award, averaging 14.5 points per game while leading the team in free throw percentage and rebounds. In his junior season, he pumped in 15.5 points per game while repeating as the team's foul shooting and board leader.
 
Moxley earned a second team MVP and solidified that honor with performances of 30 points against Boston University, 32 against Evansville, and a typically virtuoso performance in the Beanpot Basketball Tournament in the spring of 1971.
 
The Huskies voted unanimously for Moxley as captain of the 1971-72 squad, one dominated by inexperienced talent. He responded with his best scoring year, 17.5 points per game (369 in just 21 contests). Under interim coach Bowman, the Huskies were a respectable 12-9, a season that included six losses by three points or less.
 
Once again, Moxley's tenacity on both boards was clinical, as he helped Northeastern top the country in surrendering just 59 points per game. In the final game of the season against Army, Moxley notched his 1000th career point before a raucous Cabot Gymnasium throng. He moved into sixth place all-time with that signature bucket, passing such Huskies as Leo Osgood, Rick Weitzman and Tommy Martin. Icing on the cake came in the form of his second straight Most Valuable Player award for the Red and Black.
 
Moxley, who starred scholastically under Joe Morey as East Bridgewater High School, effectively end his competitive career while a walk-on candidate in the Boston Celtics free agent camp in 1972, when family considerations took precedence. He later owned Jim Moxley Pools and Building Construction, a successful construction/pool business for more than 40 years.

He is survived by his three children, Matthew Moxley and wife Tori Moxley, Kelly St. Cyr and husband Matthew St. Cyr, and Laura Moxley and fiance Craig DeCosta; his five grandchildren, Sean and Kaelyn Kilcoyne, Sophia Moxley, and Liam and Lindsey St. Cyr; his four siblings, Jerry Moxley, Linda Moxley, Michael Moxley, and Marcia Smithers.
 
Visitation will take place on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford St., Lakeville, Mass. In remembrance of Jim, the family will have a reception at The Fireside Grille in Middleboro following the service on Tuesday, May 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.