BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In a rematch of last year's Northeast Conference championship game, the LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will head over the Verrazano Bridge this Saturday, February 2, to take on Wagner in a game that will tip off at 4 p.m. The Blackbirds (10-11, 4-5 NEC) will take on the Seahawks (9-11, 4-5 NEC) in the second part of a doubleheader with the women's teams.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- The Blackbirds rallied from an 11-point deficit to nearly come back and beat Fairleigh Dickinson on the road Thursday night, but LIU couldn't overcome the Knights' sharp shooting, and fell, 80-77.
- LIU had four players scored in double digits in the loss, led by junior Julian Batts' 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Ty Flowers had 16 points, a team-high seven assists and six rebounds, while senior Raul Frias was the night's sharp-shooter, with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field, including four three pointers. Senior Raiquan Clark also added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
- The Blackbirds were without junior point guard Jashaun Agosto, who missed the first game of his career with a minor injury.
- Wagner and LIU enter Saturday's contest with identical 4-5 league records, and tied for seventh place in the standings. The Seahawks are coming off a 71-64 defeat at the hands of Bryant Thursday night.
- The two borough rivals will face off in a series that dates back to 1928, one of the oldest matchups in LIU history. The Blackbirds lead the all-time series, 61-49, including a 6-4 advantage in the last three seasons.
- Wagner, who has lost four of their last five games, is led offensively by senior guard Romone Saunders, who is averaging 18.0 points per game for the Seahawks, along with a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Saunders also leads the team in assists and steals. Senior forward Elijah Davis is the only other member of the team in double digits, as he adds 11.4 points per game.
- Up next, the Blackbirds return to Brooklyn to host Mount St. Mary's, Thursday, February 7 at 7 p.m.