FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the second time in as many weeks, the LIU Brooklyn basketball team will have their Thursday night Northeast Conference game air on national television. This week's game at Sacred Heart, Thursday, February 2, will air on ESPN U at 9 p.m. It is the first meeting for the Pioneers and the Blackbirds this season.
QUICK HITS
- LIU hung on to win its first overtime game of the season Saturday afternoon in the Steinberg Wellness Center, beating Central Connecticut State, 94-89.
- The Blackbirds led by as many as 18 points in the second half before the Blue Devils would battle back to tie the game as the buzzer sounded in regulation. A late three-pointer from senior Joel Hernandez gave LIU the push it needed to retake the lead in the final minute of OT and beat CCSU by 5, to move to 5-5 in Northeast Conference play.
- Hernandez was just one of five Blackbirds to finish with double digit points, led by junior Raiquan Clark's 30-point effort. Senior Jamall Robinson added a season-high 16 points, while sophomore Jashaun Agosto had 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds and sophomore Julian Batts added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
- Clark had his second-highest point total of the season, scoring 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 9-of-11 shooting from the free throw line. He also had six rebounds and a steal in the win.
- Hernandez had 18 points and tied his career high with 12 rebounds, for his third double double of the year.
- Robinson went 6-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, to finish with a season-high 16 points.
- Sacred Heart enters Thursday's contest with a 7-16 overall record, and 2-8 in the NEC. The Pioneers have dropped several close games throughout the season. Last weekend, SHU had two close road losses to two of the tougher teams in the league. At RMU, they fell, 64-56, and at Saint Francis U., the Pioneers lost by just one, 72-71.
- SHU also had close wins over FDU (66-65) and UMass Lowell (87-80), and close losses to common opponents Binghamton (51-48) and Wagner (69-63).
- The Blackbirds won both games last season, but not by much. LIU beat SHU on the road, 60-57, and at home in Brooklyn, 83-82.
- Senior forward Joseph Lopez is SHU's top scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game. He's also the team's top rebounder, grabbing 9.1 rebounds per game. Senior Mario Mastasovic adds 11.5 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game, while junior guard Sean Hoehn chips in 11.2 points per game and leads the team in assists (1.8 per game) and steals (1.4 per game).
- Up next, the Blackbirds head to Rhode Island to take on Bryant for the second time this season, Saturday, February 3 at 4 p.m.