LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds: Open NEC Season With Loss Against FDU

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

SUNDAY

Mount Saint Mary's

vs.

LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds

FROM

Ashland Place

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN

LIU/Brooklyn Blackbirds: Flatbush Undone By Turnovers; Fall to Fairleigh Dickinson University in NEC Opener.

Despite a closely contested first half, the Blackbirds actually spent few of the first twenty minutes playing with a lead.  Up by five with 2:44 left, LIU headed into the locker room trailing the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights 39-36 at the break.

A three-pointer by Jashuan Agosto in the opening minutes of the second half briefly put LIU ahead 43-41, but the gain was short lived.  After trading missed field goal attempts, FDU's three-pointer at 17:11 put the Knights ahead.  Although a Raiquan Clark layup put the Blackbirds back up again by one, FDU regained the lead at the 16:00 mark and never looked back.  The Knights led by as many as 13 points with just 3:28 left, and effectively kept LIU at arms length by converting on all six of their free throw attempts within the final minute en route to an eleven point margin of victory.

The Blackbirds out-rebounded FDU, but turned the ball over 15 times involving nine steals by the Knights, who in turn outscored LIU 18-5 on points off turnovers.  FDU was also more efficient from long range, connecting on 9/23 (39%) while the Blackbirds lagged with 5/22 (22%) from beyond the three.

FRIDAY FINAL

Knights       82

Blackbirds  71

The Blackbirds host Mount Saint Mary's at the Wellness Center on Sunday.  Mount Saint Mary's likewise dropped their NEC opener against the Wagner Seahawks.  They enter Sunday's game with a 6-8 overall record; the Blackbirds enter with a 5-9 record (and a 3-3 mark at home).