LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Long Island University men's basketball team capped their ten game road trip with a win Friday afternoon, beating Cal Poly in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational consolation game, 82-69. The Sharks were led by senior Raiquan Clark and junior Ty Flowers, both of whom notched double doubles in the win for LIU.
 
Clark was also named to the All-Tournament Team for his play throughout the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational.
 
GAME BREAKDOWN
Early in the game, the Sharks and the Mustangs traded baskets, but when Cal Poly went up 6-4, LIU started to take control. A three-pointer by Clark gave LIU back the lead, and sparked a huge run. The Sharks would score 11 unanswered points as a part of a larger 17-3 run that eventually put LIU up, 21-9 with 13:40 to play in the first half. But the Mustangs answered back with some sharp shooting of their own. Cal Poly would go on a 15-2 run that eventually gave them the lead once more, 24-23 with 9:31 to play.
 
But after two free throws from Clark tied it up, a three pointer from senior Julian Batts would put LIU back on top, 28-24. And that bucket sparked another Shark shooting spree, as LIU would use a 12-2 run to go up, 35-26 with three and a half minutes to play in the period. Cal Poly would get back on the board as the clock ran down, but junior Ty Flowers hit a jumper as time expired at the end of the half, and LIU took a 42-33 lead into the locker room.
 
The two teams got off to an even start in the second half, until midway through the period. Though Cal Poly was able to close the gap to just five points, LIU would rally to take their widest lead of the game. Sparked by back-to-back threes from senior Ashtyn Bradley and sophomore Jermaine Jackson Jr., LIU put together a 17-6 run that put the Sharks up, 72-56 with 6:48 to play. From there, despite the Mustangs' best attempts to make a comeback, LIU was strong at the free throw line to seal the win. Seniors Julian Batts and Raiquan Clark went a combined 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in the final 2:16 of the game to clinch the 82-69 victory for LIU.
 
SHARK BITES

• LIU shot 54.2 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe, both season highs for the Sharks.
• Senior Raiquan Clark finished with 28 points (a season high), going 7-for-9 from the field, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 12-for-15 from the free throw line. He also had 12 rebounds and two blocks for LIU.
• Junior Ty Flowers finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Sharks. It was his team-leading fifth double double of the season.
• Sophomore Virshon Cotton had a season high 13 points for LIU, including three three-pointers.
• Jashaun Agosto and Jermaine Jackson Jr. combined for nine assists, each with six points in the win.
• Cal Poly was led by 19 points from Malek Harwell, who went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line.

 
UP NEXT
The Sharks return to the east coast, but still won't play in Brooklyn. Up next for LIU is a road trip to Army, Saturday, December 7 at 1 p.m.