LORETTO, Pa. - Sophomore Martin Hermannsson matched his career high with 25 points and juniors Jerome Frink (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Aakim Saintil (20 points) each made big plays at the end of regulation and in overtime to lift the LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team to a 94-89 overtime victory over Saint Francis U. on Saturday. With the win, the Blackbirds clinch a berth into the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament which begins on March 2. 

The home team, sparked by three seniors who were playing their final regular-season game at DeGol Arena, led the majority of the first half and was on fire from three-point range early. Saint Francis U. hit eight of its first 11 three-point attempts in opening up a 29-21 lead just past the midway point of the period. The advantage expanded to 12 points following a three-point play from senior Ronnie Drinnon and a jumper from another senior, Greg Brown, with 2:53 on the clock. Ben Millaud-Meunier, the third of the senior trio, connected on three first-half threes to register 11 points.

LIU Brooklyn was able to trim the deficit to single digits to close the first half thanks to Frink and Hermannsson, who each had 10 points. The Blackbirds shot well from the field (48.6%) but struggled on the defensive end as Saint Francis U. went into intermission hitting 58.1 percent of its shots.

The Red Flash again pushed the lead back to double figures as Drinnon hit two free throws to put the score at 64-52 with 13:02 remaining. Saintil responded with a jumper that kickstarted an 8-3 spurt that pulled LIU to within 67-62 just past the 10-minute mark of the second half. Drinnon and Frink, the two versatile forwards opposing one another, traded conversions over the next two minutes before Millaud-Meunier hit two free throws to bump the cushion back to 73-66. 

Saintil once again hit a big shot, connecting on a straight-away three-pointer that brought the Blackbirds back within four. Drinnon answered with a three-ball of his own, but Saintil converted in the lane and Hermannsson made a layup to bring LIU Brooklyn all the way to within 76-74 with 2:15 on the clock. On the next possession, Brown converted on a tough bank shot to re-up the lead to 78-74 for the home squad at the 1:45 mark.

The two teams went to the free throw line four times apiece over the next minute, with LIU hitting all four but the Red Flash missing two of four. The miscues at the charity stripe proved costly, as junior Joel Hernandez converted a contested layup with 21 seconds left to tie the game at 80-80. Saint Francis U. had two opportunities to win the game in regulation, but missed on a floater and a putback attempt as the contest moved to overtime.

In the extra session, LIU Brooklyn hit all four of its shots from the field and was able to build a 91-84 lead following a three-pointer from Saintil with 1:24 to go. A three from Millaud-Meunier and a layup from Basil Thompson cut LIU's lead to 92-89 with 3.9 seconds remaining. But Hermannsson converted two free throws to seal the win and seal LIU's bid into the postseason.

Hernandez joined Frink with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) while redshirt sophomore Nura Zanna was the fifth LIU player to reach double digits in scoring with 12 points. Drinnon finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Red Flash.

LIU Brooklyn returns home for its final two regular-season contests, beginning with a tilt against Central Connecticut on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 pm.