LOWELL, Mass. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team had a late rally to force overtime at the Tsongas Center Saturday afternoon, beating the UMass Lowell River Hawks in extra time, 82-78. Senior Jerome Frink led all players with 27 points in the win, which moves the Blackbirds to 5-1 this season. It is the best start for an LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team since the 1982-83 season.

Lowell led for most of the contest, including jumping out to an early 6-0 lead. Senior Tyler Livingston hit back-to-back threes to give UML the early advantage. The forward was an offensive powerhouse for the home team in the first half, scoring 22 points, including six three pointers.  But the Blackbirds' defense would shut him down in the second half, as he scored zero points in 17 minutes of action. LIU's defense was a crucial part of the win, as the Blackbirds had 13 steals, including eight in the second half, and scored 24 points off of UML turnovers.

The two teams went back and forth for most of the game. LIU's bright spot in the first half cam when the Blackbirds went on an 11-2 run, including a three from Frink, and two dunks from senior Nura Zanna, putting the visitors up, 30-23 with 7:50 to play. But the home team would outscore LIU 21-8 over the rest of the half, and took a 44-38 lead into the break.

UMass Lowell continued to lead for the majority of the game, until the final six minutes of play. LIU slowly put together a 10-2 run over four minutes, and Frink would convert the traditional three-point play with 5:32 on the clock to put the Blackbirds up once more, 62-59.

Lowell's Matt Harris scored his first points of the game in a crucial moment, when his three pointer would knot the score up, 64-64 with 2:41 to go. Frink and Zanna would both score to put LIU up in the final minutes of play, but Harris would make two free throws for the River Hawks, tying it up at 68-68 with 43 seconds left in regulation. Frink would miss a late three-pointer, and senior Iverson Fleming would force a steal on UML's next trip down the court, and the two teams remained tied as the clock ran out.

In their first overtime period of the season, LIU had a strong start. Zanna won the tip for the Blackbirds, and Fleming would drain a three-pointer off a pass from freshman Julian Batts to get LIU started. Frink added a layup 30 seconds later, and LIU led, 73-68 with 3:52 on the clock.

LIU took the lead for good at the under two-minute mark. Fleming had another layup, and 40 seconds later, Frink once again converted on the layup and free throw, to put the Blackbirds up, 80-74. Livingston, who after a scoreless second half would score five points in OT, drained a three pointer at the 53 second mark, but both Frink and Batts would make free throws in the final 17 seconds to keep the Blackbirds on top, 82-78.
 
NOTES FROM THE NEST  

• LIU outrebounded the River Hawks, 33-24, including a 14-7 advantage on offensive boards.
• Senior Jerome Frink had a season-high 27 points, along with nine rebounds and four assists, while senior Iverson Fleming had 16 points, five assists and four steals.
• Senior Nura Zanna had his first double-double of the season, with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Julius van Sauers had eight points for LIU.
• Up next, LIU continues its road swing, heading to Hartford for a midweek matchup, Wednesday, November 30 at 8 p.m.