Northeast Conference Quarterfinals: Battle of Brooklyn

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE

QUARTERFINALS

Saint Francis College

#5 TERRIERS

vs.

LIU/Brooklyn

#4 BLACKBIRDS

FROM

THE WRAC

THE BATTLE of DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN

With regards to the Northeast Conference tournament, this marks only the fifth time these charter members will clash on the court.

Saint Francis and LIU last faced each other in the 2015 NEC tournament when the top-seeded Terriers knocked off the Blackbirds.  The Terriers advanced to face second-seeded Robert Morris in the conference final that year, but fell short of winning their first ever NEC championship upon losing a tightly contested 63-66 affair against the Colonials.

They're back in the tournament to face LIU after failing to qualify for post-season play last year.

The Blackbirds are making their fourth straight tourney appearance.  They have won five conference titles in their history, and are the only NEC team to ever win three straight (2011-2013).

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE PREVIEW 

The teams split their regular season match-up.  Both games took place this month.  Saint Francis struck first with an 84-79 victory at home.  The Blackbirds avenged that loss a week later with an 81-76 victory at the WRAC.

Both teams posted identical 10-8 conference records.  LIU, however, finished with a 15-16 overall record, while Saint Francis finished up with a 13-17 overall record.  The Wagner Seahawks won the regular season title with a 14-4 conference record, and a 21-8 record overall.

FINAL NEC STANDINGS

The Blackbirds were 10-4 at the WRAC this season, while the Terriers were 3-11 on the road.