LIU Sharks: One Victory Down, Two To Go

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

NEC TOURNEY

Fairleigh Dickinson    72

LIU SHARKS               73

With less than four seconds left to play and LIU down by one, senior Julian Batts receives a baseline inbounds, dribbles high around the left elbow, then cuts down the lane for the game winning layup.

and the Ashland Place gymnasium goes crazy!! https://t.co/4bPhkpDEqY

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) March 5, 2020

LIU takes a 15-point lead (44-29) into halftime, and by 13:26 of the second session lead by as many as 19-points.  After which the Knights strike back with a furious 35-16 run, closing within two points of the Sharks with under a minute left to play.  A defensive rebound and layup at the other end by FDU's Elyjah Williams ties the score at 71-71 with just 0:22 second left.  Williams' free throw conversion then gives the Knights their first lead since 8:40 of the first half.  But it wouldn't last.  A key Raiquan Clark rebound gives LIU possession with just three seconds showing on the clock.  Coming out of a time out, Batts scores off the glass just before the buzzer sounds.

With Thursday's 73-72 victory over #5 Fairleigh Dickinson at the Wellness Center, the Sharks advance to the Northeast Conference semifinal round against top seed Robert Morris at Pittsburgh.