LIU Blackbirds ~ Hoops of Flatbush Win Fifth Straight

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH






LIU BLACKBIRDS:   ...And Then There Were Two.


A/O  Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012



Jamal Olasewere and Jason Brickman led all first-half scorers with fifteen points and ten points respectively.  Quinnipiac dominated on the defensive boards however, which helped them remain tied 37-37 at half-time.  As a matter of fact, Quinnipiac belittled LIU on the glass out rebounding the Blackbirds 61-38 for the game.




In the second half, Jamal Olasewere dropped another ten points to finish the night with twenty-five.  And this time team mate Julian Boyd stepped in to net ten second half points.




In a game when the score was tied sixteen times; the last occurring at 45-45; LIU soon gained a measure of separation after a 7-0 run that put them up by ten with eleven and a half minutes to play.  They withstood the Bobcats' run which brought the home team to within three points.  Brooklyn then buried free throws down the stretch to secure a 79-75 tightly contested road win.




The Blackbirds had four players in double digit scoring.  Jamal led the way with twenty-five.  Julian Boyd was second with seventeen points.  Jason Brickman finished with twelve points and a game high ten assists.  Kenny Onyechi added twelve more points off the bench.  As a team however, they did a woeful job on the offensive boards as noted.




But let's not get nit-picky; after all, the Academics from Ashland Place are now riding a five game winning streak.  In their last five games, they've dispatched St. Peter's; Texas State; NJIT; Sacred Heart; and Quinnipiac by an average score of 86-78.




And then there were two.  With these most recent back-to-back wins over Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac, the defending Champs raised their NEC record to 4-0 and are now locked in a two way tie with Central Connecticut State for first place.  Robert Morris finally lost their first game to drop out of a three way Conference tie for the lead spot.

The Hoops of Flatbush are coming home now.  They take on Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night at the Ashland Gym in the first of three home games.  The visiting Knights are having their problems this season and are supporting the weight of the NEC with a 0-4 Conference record.  They are 1-13 overall; losers of their last eleven and 0-9 on the road.  To borrow a football term, don't fall for the Trap Game fellas.




Following Thursday's game, Flatbush will welcome Monmouth and get their second look at Mount St. Mary's.  The clashes with Central Connecticut State and Robert Morris will appear on the horizon shortly there after.





Mike.BTB