BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will host cross-borough rival Wagner in the first meeting of the two teams this season. The Seahawks will come to the Steinberg Wellness Center Saturday, January 12 as a part of a Northeast Conference double header with the women's teams. The men's game, which will air free on NEC Front Row, is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.
QUICK HITS
- The Blackbirds are coming off a big road win Thursday night. Four Blackbirds scored in double figures at the Rothman Center, as LIU had a total team win over Fairleigh Dickinson, 90-85. Late foul trouble would cost the Knights, as LIU shot 39 free throws, 36 of which came in the second half. Teaneck native Joel Hernandez led the Blackbirds in the win with 22 points, while junior Raiquan Clark had his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. With the win, the Blackbirds move to 2-3 in Northeast Conference action.
- Sophomore Jashaun Agosto had 17 points and six assists, while sophomore Julian Batts had 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, three assists and four rebounds.
- The Blackbirds went 27-for-39 from the free throw line (24-for-36 in the second half) and outrebounded the Knights, 41-30.
- Wagner (11-5 overall, 4-1 in the NEC) is riding a three game winning streak, and sitting atop of the NEC's early standings. The Seahawks have rolled through league action relatively unscathed so far, beating Mount (76-57), SHU (69-63), FDU (73-65) and Bryant (71-62). The lone hiccup was an 82-75 loss to St. Francis Brooklyn on the road in the first weekend of conference play.
- Wagner is third in the league as a team in scoring offense, putting up 74.4 points per game, and leads the league in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 69.2 points per contest. They also rank near the top of the league in free throw percentage, rebounding offense and defense, blocked shots and total rebounds.
- Sophomore guard Blake Francis is the team's leading scorer, ranking third in the NEC with an 18.5 points per game average, just behind LIU's Hernandez (3rd) and ahead of Clark (5th).
- Senior guard JoJo Cooper is the team's backbone. He ranks 12th in the league in scoring, with 14.0 points per game, and is also 13th in the league in rebounding, with 5.9 per contest. He leads the league in assists, averaging 5.75 per game, is second in assists/turnover ratio (1.96), third in steal (1.88 per game), and fourth in minutes played (34.88).
- Junior forward AJ Sumbry is the team's top defender. He pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game and adds 7.1 points per game. The Quinnipiac transfer leads the league in blocked shots with 37 this season, good for a 2.31 blocks per game average.
- Last season, the Blackbirds swept Wagner, beating the Seahawks at home, 76-69, before taking an overtime win on Staten Island, 88-84. LIU leads the all-time series, 59-45, having won four of the last five meetings.
- Up next, the Blackbirds host Bryant, Thursday, January 18 at 7 p.m.