BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will face off with Fairleigh Dickinson for the second time in two weeks, taking on the Knights on their home court in a matchup that will air on ESPNU, Thursday, January 31 at 5 p.m. The Blackbirds (10-10, 4-4 NEC) will look to beat the Knights (9-11, 4-4 NEC) for the second time this season.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- LIU is coming off one of their most emphatic wins of the season. The Blackbirds led by as many as 30 points Saturday afternoon in Detrick Gymnasium, cruising to an 84-71 win over Central Connecticut State. It was the first time this season that LIU has led for the entire 40 minutes against a Division I opponent. Five Blackbird players scored in double digits in the win, led by Raiquan Clark, who had a game-high 21 points. Senior Raul Frias (19 points), junior Julius van Sauers (12 points), junior Jashaun Agosto (11 points) and sophomore Ty Flowers (11 points) added to the point total in the win
- The 20-point lead at halftime was the biggest lead for the Blackbirds this season, surpassing the 19-point advantage LIU had over the College of New Rochelle in the season opener.
- It was also the most points scored by LIU in a first half against a D1 opponent this season, and the second most in either half all season, behind the 57 points the Blackbirds scored in the second half of their win over Albany.
- It was just the second time this season that LIU has had five players score in double figures in the same game.
- FDU is on a hot streak since their loss to LIU. The Blackbirds beat the Knights in Brooklyn, 79-77 on January 19th, but since then, FDU has won three straight, beating Mount (87-69), St. Francis Brooklyn (60-58) and Bryant (78-63).
- Junior guard Darnell Edge, who leads FDU in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game, also led the team against the Blackbirds, scoring 20 points in the loss.
- In that matchup, LIU trailed by as many as 10 points, but rallied late to beat the Knights by just two points at home. The Blackbirds were led by a double double from Clark, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with Flowers, who had 18 points, and sophomore Eral Penn, who had a career-high 12 points. The Blackbirds won with the help of 18 second chance points, as LIU out-rebounded FDU by a margin of 40 to 25. The Blackbirds had 17 offensive rebounds, one of their highest team totals this season.
- Fairleigh Dickinson was picked second in the NEC Preseason Coaches' poll, one spot ahead of the Blackbirds.
- All time, the two teams are locked in a dead heat, in a series that dates back to 1950, 53-53. LIU has won three of the last four, including the last three straight. Last season, the Blackbirds beat FDU on the road, 90-85, and then they beat them in the NEC semifinal in Brooklyn, 78-77. January's win made three in a row for LIU.
- Up next, the Blackbirds will travel to Staten Island for a rematch of last year's Northeast Conference championship game, taking on Wagner, Saturday, February 2 at 4 p.m.