SOUTH KINGSTON, R.I.  – The Long Island University men's basketball team had a hard-fought loss in the Ryan Center Tuesday night, as the Sharks fell to the University of Rhode Island in their season opener, 76-65. Senior Ashtyn Bradley led LIU, with a career-high 21 points, while junior Ty Flowers had his first double double of the season, with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Sharks fought throughout the night, despite a deplete roster. After host URI went up by nine points at the second media timeout, 15-6, sophomore Ousmane Ndim, who had his first career start, had a turnaround hook in the paint that would cut the lead back down to seven points, 15-8. And at 8:33, a three by Flowers had LIU within five points, 19-14. The Rams would eventually push the lead to 13 points, 33-20, but then Bradley went to work. The senior made a layup, and then hit back to back threes for eight straight points, helping cut the lead down to 36-28 at the half time break.
 
In the second half, the home team would push the lead to as many as 17 points with 11 minutes to play, but the Sharks managed to come back within striking distance. Ndim would make two free throws, and then Flowers would score five unanswered points to bring LIU back within 10, 55-45. Just two minutes later, a three from sophomore Virshon Cottom would cut the lead to single digits, 57-48, with 6:43 to play. And two minutes later, Cotton converted a traditional three-point play to bring the team within eight, 61-53. But fouls would cost the Sharks late in the game, and Rhode Island took the win in the end, 76-65.
 
SHARK BITES

• Senior Ashtyn Bradley led the Sharks and set a new career high, with 21 points (including five threes) and six rebounds.
• Junior Ty Flowers had his ninth double double, and first of the season, with 15 points. His 12 rebounds ties a career high.
• Senior Jashaun Agosto had a game-high 10 assists, along with seven points.
• Sophomore Ousmane Ndim had six points and seven rebounds, both career highs in his first collegiate state.
• The Sharks were without redshirt senior Raiquan Clark, who was serving an NCAA-mandated single game suspension.
• LIU set a program record with 44 attempted three pointers. The previous record, set in 1997, was 43.
• Up next, LIU opens the season at home in the Steinberg Wellness Center, hosting UMass Lowell, Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m.