BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team will host Central Connecticut State in the Steinberg Wellness Center, Thursday, February 28 at 7 p.m., in the first of two games of the final weekend of the regular season. The Blackbirds (7-9 Northeast Conference) are looking to clinch a spot in the playoffs win a win over the Blue Devils. LIU is currently tied for seventh place in the league standings with Bryant, while CCSU (5-11 NEC) is two games out, and hoping to keep postseason dreams alive.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- The Blackbirds are coming off a huge road win; LIU snapped Saint Francis U.'s eight game winning streak Saturday afternoon, toppling the league-leading Red Flash, 69-66.
- The win was a total team effort for LIU, as all eight players that went in the game scored at least four points, and five different Blackbirds had two assists or more in the win. Senior Raiquan Clark led LIU with 18 points, while sophomore Ty Flowers had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
- CCSU (11-18, 5-11 NEC) is still fighting for a spot in the NEC Tournament, but could be without the help of their best player, Tyler Kohl, who was suspended last weekend. The Blue Devils have lost their last four straight games, but do have wins this season over some of the top teams in the league, including FDU, Robert Morris at St. Francis Brooklyn.
- The Blackbirds lead the all-time series between the two teams, 24-21, including an 8-3 record over the last 11 meetings, but CCSU has won two of the last four. Last year, the two teams split home and home, with CCSU winning at Detrick Gymnasium (72-63), and LIU winning in OT in downtown Brooklyn (94-89).
- Earlier this season, the Blackbirds came out on top when they took on CCSU on the road. LIU led by as many as 30 points in Detrick Gymnasium, cruising to an 84-71 win over Central Connecticut State in late January.
- It was the first time this season that the Blackbirds led for the entire 40 minutes against a Division I opponent.
- Five LIU 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.
- Up next, the Blackbirds host Bryant for Senior Day, Saturday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m.