BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will close out both the 2018 calendar year and their non-conference schedule by taking on one of their intra-borough rivals, Sunday, December 30. The Blackbirds will head up the West Side Highway to take on Fordham in historic Rose Hill Gymnasium; the two teams will tip off at 7 p.m. in a game that will air on ESPN+.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- LIU (5-6) is coming off an eight-day break. The last time the Blackbirds took to the court was in the Barclays Center, where Binghamton won in a buzzer-beater, 68-67. LIU, who led by 10 at the halftime break, saw the Bearcats (4-9) claw their way back and hit a three pointer as the buzzer sounded to take the win.
- Redshirt sophomore Ty Flowers led LIU, as he went 12-for-19 from the field for a career-high 27 points. He also notched a career-high 11 rebounds en route to his third double double of the season, and his four steals was also a new career high.
- Senior Raiquan Clark was the only other Blackbird in double digits, as he had 15 points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists
- The Blackbirds shot just 27.8 percent from three-point range in the loss, and took a season-low 11 free throws.
- Fordham comes into Sunday's matchup with a 9-3 overall record, including an 8-1 record at home. The Rams' last two wins have been big ones, as they beat Howard and James Madison at home, by a combined 34 points. Prior to that, Fordham fell to NJIT, 53-50 at home in mid-December.
- Fordham is led by freshman phenome Nick Honor, who is averaging 17.3 points per game. Junior guard Antwon Portley (11.8 points per game) and freshman guard Jalen Cobb (10.3 points per game) round out the team's top scorers.
- Last year, the Blackbirds traveled to Rose Hill gym in mid-November to take on the Rams as a part of the Jamaica Classic. Fordham had four double digit scorers as they beat the Blackbirds, 81-68.
- Up next, the Blackbirds open up Northeast Conference play by heading north. LIU will take on Sacred Heart (Jan. 3) and Bryant (Jan. 5) to start NEC action.