BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team gets to return home for the first time in five games this week, hosting Hartford in the Steinberg Wellness Center, Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. The two teams will see each other for the second time in as many weeks, as the Blackbirds and the Hawks met in Jamaica on November 18.
QUICK HITS
- The Blackbirds are coming off their third straight road loss. NJIT gave LIU multiple opportunities to take control of the game Tuesday night in the Wellness and Events Center, but the Blackbirds couldn't convert on their chances, and the Highlanders notched their first-ever victory over LIU, 73-69.
- The Highlanders went 1-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 90 seconds of play, including missing the front end of three straight one and one opportunities. But LIU also struggled as the clock ran down, going 0-for-6 from three-point range and 0-for-7 from the field overall in the final 90 seconds.
- Senior Joel Hernandez led LIU with 13 points and a career-high six assists, while sophomore Julian Batts had 13 points and five rebounds. Junior Raiquan Clark had a double double for the Blackbirds, with 12 points. NJIT's Abduhl Lewis led all players with 23 points and 18 rebounds for the home team.
- Last time Hartford and LIU met, the Hawks had a chance to win the game with 15 seconds left, but missed their last shot, and the Blackbirds took the two-point victory.
- Four different LIU players scored in double figures in the win. Clark was the team's leading scorer, putting up 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds, shooting 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Sophomore Jashaun Agosto had 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, seven assists and six rebounds. Zach Coleman went 4-for-8 from three for 14 points, while Joel Hernandez had 10 points and four assists for LIU. Raul Frias and Jamall Robinson both had season highs in the win, with nine and eight points respectively.
- Hartford also had four players in double figures, led by Jason Dunn's 23 points. JR Lynch added 20 points and five assists, John Caroll scored 14 points, and Hassan Attia had 12 points along with three blocks.