BROOKLYN, N.Y. – After a 46-day absence, the LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team is finally returning home to the Steinberg Wellness Center this week. The Blackbirds, who haven't played on their home court since November 24, will host the Pennsylvania contingent of the Northeast Conference, starting with Saint Francis U., Thursday, January 10 at 7 p.m.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- The Blackbirds got their first win of the NEC season on the road at Bryant Saturday. LIU (7-7, 1-1 NEC) used hot shooting from beyond the arc late in the game to beat Bryant, 79-70. Junior Julian Batts led the charge for LIU, with 20 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range. Senior Raiquan Clark had 19 points, while sophomore Ty Flowers had his fifth double double of the season with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
- Junior Jashaun Agosto had 14 points and five assists, while sophomore Eral Penn (6 pts, 5 rebs) and senior Raul Frias (6 pts, 2 rebs, 1 block) were both key contributors off the bench.
- The Blackbirds shot 72.4 percent from the free throw line, and 44.4 percent from the field in the win.
- Saint Francis (5-8, 1-1 NEC) was picked as the preseason favorite to win the NEC in the coaches poll in October. The Red Flash's record is misleading, as four of SFU's early season losses came to teams that are ranked nationally (Buffalo, UCLA, North Carolina and Virginia Tech). In conference action, they opened the slate with an 80-69 win over Mount St. Mary's, but fell on Saturday at home to FDU, 79-61.
- The Red Flash is led by preseason All-NEC pick Keith Braxton. The junior guard is averaging a team-high 15.3 points per game, and 10.2 rebounds per game (which leads the NEC). He also leads the NEC and his team in steals per game (2.15), and ranks 9th in the NEC and leads his team in assists per game (3.31).
- And Braxton is just one of four Red Flash who are averaging in double digits in scoring. Also contributing are senior guard Jamaal King (14.4 ppg), junior guard Isaiah Blackmon (10.6 ppg) and senior guard Andre Wolford (10.1 ppg).
- As a team, SFU ranks second in the NEC in scoring offense (76.0 points per game) and offensive rebounds (14.46 per game).
- Up next, the Blackbirds will host Robert Morris in the Steinberg Wellness Center, Saturday, January 12 as a part of a double header with the women's team. The Blackbirds and the Colonials will tip off at 4:30 p.m.