BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In what will is projected to be a snowy showdown, the LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will host local rival Fairleigh Dickinson in a Northeast Conference matchup slated for Saturday, January 19 at 4:30 p.m. A part of an NEC doubleheader, the men's teams will face off after LIU and FDU's women's teams play at 2:00 p.m. in the Steinberg Wellness Center.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team is coming off of an uncharacteristic week-long break. The last time the Blackbirds took to the court, they downed the lone undefeated team remaining in the Northeast Conference Saturday afternoon. The Blackbirds beat previously unbeaten Robert Morris, 80-73, to even their league record at 2-2 this season. The game was close throughout, with 11 lead changes.
- LIU was led by three players in double digits: senior Raiquan Clark (24 points), junior Jashaun Agosto (21 points, nine assists) and sophomore Ty Flowers (16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks).
- Fairleigh Dickinson was picked second in the NEC Preseason Coaches' poll, one spot ahead of the Blackbirds.
- So far this season, the Knights are 6-10 overall, 1-3 in the NEC, having fallen to Robert Morris (69-63), CCSU (103-96, 2OT), and most recently Wagner (66-60). But FDU pulled out a dominant win over preseason favorite Saint Francis U., 79-61.
- The Knights rank first in the NEC and 25th in the nation in steals per game.
- FDU has four players averaging in double figures: senior guard Darnell Edge (15.0 ppg), sophomore guard Xzavier Malone-Key (13.8 ppg), sophomore guard Jahlil Jenkins (13.5 ppg), and senior forward Mike Holloway Jr. (11.2 ppg).
- All time, FDU has one-game advantage over the Blackbirds, in a series that dates back to 1950, 53-52. But LIU has won two of the last three, including the last two straight. First, the Blackbirds beat FDU on the road, 90-85, and then they beat them in the NEC semifinal in Brooklyn, 78-77.
- Up next, the Blackbirds host St. Francis Brooklyn for an ESPN3-aired contest. LIU and SFBK will square off Monday, January 21 at 3 p.m.