MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team suffered a 74-67 loss at Robert Morris in Northeast Conference action on Thursday evening. Sophomore Martin Hermannsson registered a team-high 18 points and junior Iverson Fleming added 12 points off the bench for the Blackbirds, who dropped to 13-13 overall and 7-8 in NEC play. 
 
Neither team was able to establish much separation through a close first half. The Blackbirds used five straight points from junior Jerome Frink to take their largest lead at 13-8 at the 14:15 mark. Robert Morris bounced back with a 9-2 spurt to take a two-point lead before LIU responded with five consecutive points, including a deep three from junior Aakim Saintil, to regain the lead at 20-17.
 
Three straight buckets near the basket by the Colonials pushed the home team in front by its largest margin at 23-20, but Fleming connected on a three-pointer to knot the score with just under five minutes left in the period. The trifecta ignited a 9-2 spurt that included four free throws from Hermannsson to push the lead to 29-25. After a brief run by the Colonials, two more from the charity stripe from Fleming gave the Blackbirds a one-point lead at halftime.
 
Both teams traded baskets to begin the second half before six straight, including a three-pointer from sophomore Trevin Woods, put LIU in front 42-38. But Rodney Pryor, who scored a game-best 24 points in the contest, had five straight points to put the Colonials back in front.
 
Robert Morris remained ahead until Hernandez hit a short jumper and Hermannsson connected on a three-pointer on the fast break to give the Blackbirds a 56-55 lead. LIU Brooklyn's offense, however, went cold after that point, hitting just one field goal over a key stretch of 4:10 that saw the Colonials go on a key 14-4 run.
 
Pryor was the catalyst, scoring six points in the run while Kavon Stewart had two jumpers in the lane. Hermannsson did his best in a last-gasp attempt, hitting a layup and a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 70-65. But it was too little, too late as the Colonials held on.
 
LIU Brooklyn closes out its three-game road swing on Saturday, Feb. 20 against Saint Francis U. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m.