BELFAST, Northern Ireland – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will open the international contingent of the 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic Thursday, November 29, taking on the University at Albany in a game that will air on CBS Sports Network at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, 7 p.m. in Ireland. Then, the Blackbirds advance to play either Marist or Dartmouth in the consolation or championship game, Friday, November 30.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Blackbirds are looking to snap a three-game losing skid. Last Saturday, the quad fell to NJIT at home. LIU rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half to come within six points of beating NJIT in the final minute of play at home Saturday afternoon, but the Blackbirds could not top the Highlanders' hot shooting, and fell 77-70. Senior Raiquan Clark led LIU with 31 points and 10 rebounds. The senior went 11-for-14 at the free throw line, and 10-for-18 from the field, while junior Jashaun Agosto had a career-high 11 assists in the loss.
BIRTHDAY BUDDIES
- CBS Sports Network talent and Coach Derek Kellogg all have something in common: their birthday! Play-by-play analyst Dave Ryan, color commentator Pete Gillen and Kellogg were all born on June 20th.
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
- The Blackbirds are 3-0 all-time against Albany, but haven't matched up with the Great Danes since the 2004-05 season. That year, the two teams took it to overtime, with LIU winning, 80-76.
- Albany is 2-4 this season, having most recently fallen to Milwaukee, 79-70. The Danes have three players averaging in double digits, led by Ahmad Clark (17.7 ppg), Cameron Healy (16.2 ppg), and Devonte Campbell (10.5 ppg & 7.2 rpg).
SCOUTING THE BIG GREEN & RED FOXES
- Dartmouth is one of LIU's oldest opponents, in a series that dates back to 1965, but the two teams haven't faced off against each other since 1968. The Blackbirds won both all-time match-ups, 90-55 and 62-44.
- The Big Green are also 3-3 this season, having lost their last two games at San Francisco (84-65) and at #22 Buffalo (110-71). Dartmouth has five players averaging in double digits, led by Adrease Jackson's 14.0 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game, along with Chris Knight (13.5 ppg), Brendan Barry (11.5 ppg), Ian Sistare (11.5 ppg) and James Foye (10.3 ppg).
- Marist and LIU have faced off in an Empire State rivalry that dates back to 1981. The Red Foxes hold the all-time advantage, 13-23, but LIU won the last two meetings in 1996-97, 104-72 and 99-88. Marist is also coached by a familiar face, former Saint Peter's head coach Pete Dunn, who faced off against Coach Kellogg and last year's LIU team and won.
- The Red Foxes are 1-4 early in the season.
UP NEXT
- Up next, the Blackbirds will take on Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, Saturday, December 8 at 1 p.m.