LIU Blackbirds ~ Flatbush Wins 7th Straight; Stay Undefeated in Conference

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU BLACKBIRDS:  The Hoops of Flatbush Remain Unbeaten in Their Conference After Defeating the Monmouth Hawks. 

LIU-Brooklyn's Win Streak is up to Seven Games Now.

THURSDAY FINAL:

Fairleigh Dickinson   64

LIU Blackbirds         84

Part of becoming Conference Champs and then defending that title is winning the games you're supposed to win.  That might be a little rough with regards to Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth.   But lets be honest, they've had their troubles this season. 




And Trouble, is what the Blackbirds didn't have last Thursday night as they limited Fairleigh Dickinson to sixty-four points to win their sixth game in a row and remain unbeaten within the Conference.




Brooklyn's downtown college cagers took care of business in the Ashland Place Gym as all five starters finished with double digit scoring.  The night was a balanced effort on all counts.  C.J. Garner was high man with sixteen points.  And of the game's starters, Michael Culpo lagged behind his team mates with thirteen.




I'll tell you what else lagged behind; rebounding.  Fairleigh Dickinson won the battle of the glass 48-45; but to no avail.  They hindered their efforts with fouls and paid for it at the line.  LIU-Brooklyn  shot 27/36 from the line.  With the Blackbirds playing a cleaner game, Fairleigh Dickinson settled for 5/12 from the foul line.  Brooklyn also rained down 6/11 three pointers in the first half on their way to an eight point lead at the break.




With the win, LIU increased their NEC leading record to 5-0 with Monmouth on tap for today; Saturday.  And like Fairleigh Dickinson, the Hawks are struggling as well this season.  They entered Saturday's game with a 1-4 conference record.

SATURDAY FINAL:

Monmouth Hawks   86

LIU Blackbirds      106

Brooklyn showed no mercy and cracked the century mark in points for the second time in six games.  In securing a 106-86 win over the Hawks this afternoon, they are now the proud owners of a 6-0 Conference record.  With a 5-0 record, Central Connecticut State's game against third place Wagner is still yet to be played tonight in Staten Island.




In game two of a three game set at the Ashland Gym, the Blackbirds enjoyed their home-court advantage during a big 63-49 second half, and rode the strength of 64% shooting from the field versus just 49% for Monmouth in the game.  Julian Boyd was the game's high scorer with twenty-eight buckets.  Monmouth's Mike Myers-Keitt was the game's second high scorer with twenty-seven points.




Jamal Olasewere came in at nineteen points and led the team in rebounds with nine.  C.J. Garner added fourteen points and had a game high eight assists.  Jason Brickman added six more assists and along with Garner almost matched Monmouth who totaled just sixteen assists all game.  Michael Culpo and Kenny Onyechi had fourteen points each to place five Blackbirds in double-digit scoring.




LIU remains on par with their competition on the glass.  Unlike last game, they won this battle of the boards 35-31 this time.  But once again, the Blackbirds did their damage at the line, shooting 83% on 25/30 shooting, while Monmouth shot a sketchy 53% on 9/17 shooting from the line.  If they Hawks did anything well, the buried the Blackbirds in three-point land; shooting 45% from beyond the arch.  They nailed 9/20 shots while Brooklyn only managed 3/14 for a resounding 21% shooting percentage.




LIU's home-stand concludes with a visit from Mount St. Mary's next Thursday.  The Blackbirds defeated them 85-76 back on December 3rd when they last travelled to Maryland.






Hey..., if you want to be the top team, you gotta beat the top team.  Go Blackbirds.  Go Brooklyn.!







Mike.BTB