LORETTO, Pa. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team is in a battle to maintain a spot in the Northeast Conference playoffs, as they will square off against Saint Francis U., Saturday, February 23 at 1 p.m., in game one of a doubleheader with the women's teams. The Blackbirds (12-15, 6-9 NEC) are currently in a tie for seventh and the last playoff spot with just over a week left in the regular season, and they will attempt to unseat the league-leading Red Flash (15-11, 11-4 NEC).
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- After leading at the half, LIU was shut down in the second stanza, as Robert Morris powered to a 62-49 win over the Blackbirds in the North Athletic Complex Thursday night.
- Junior Jashaun Agosto became the program's 37th player to reach the 1,000-point mark in the game, with his jump shot at 19:09 in the second half. Pennsylvania native Julian Batts led LIU, scoring a game-high 16 points. The 49 points scored was the lowest point total for LIU in a men's basketball game since 2016.
- Saint Francis is on a hot streak, having won eight straight NEC games. They also have a 10-2 record at home this season, making De Gol Arena a formidable advantage.
- All-time, the two teams have a 38-38 record in a rivalry that dates back to 1963. SFU has won three of the last four meetings, including earlier this season in downtown Brooklyn, when the Red Flash beat the Blackbirds in the Steinberg Wellness Center, 74-67.
- SFU is led by preseason All-NEC selection and NEC Player of Year candidate Keith Braxton, who averages 16.3 points per game, a league-best 9.9 rebounds per game, 4.23 assists per game, and 1.69 steals per game.
- Up next, the Blackbirds return home for the final weekend of the regular season, hosting CCSU and Bryant in the Steinberg Wellness Center, Thursday, February 28, and Saturday, March 2.