NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Long Island University men's basketball team is set to square off with the newest member of the Northeast Conference Saturday afternoon, as the Sharks will take on the Merrimack Warriors, in a game slated to begin at 4 p.m.
SHARK BITES
- LIU is looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Robert Morris at home last Saturday, 71-66. With the defeat, the Sharks moved to 10-11 on the season and 5-3 in league action.
- Milestone watch: Three Sharks are in the hunt for a big milestone in the near future. Head Coach Derek Kellogg is just one win away from 200 career wins, senior Julian Batts needs just 50 points to hit the 1,00- point mark, and senior Raiquan Clark is on the hunt to become LIU's all-time leading scorer and hit 2,000 career points. He's 60 points and 188 points away from each of those goals, respectively.
- Merrimack (14-8, 8-1 NEC) is the hottest team in the conference, despite being picked last in the preseason poll. The Warriors have stormed on to the scene, despite transitioning from Division II last season. The matchup Saturday could be one for the memory books, as the top defensive team in the league will meet with the highest scoring squad in the NEC.
- The Sharks lead the league offensively, putting up 78.0 points per game, while the Warriors average just 63.0 ppg, the second lowest total in the NEC. But Merrimack only allows 60.8 points per game, the lowest in the conference, while LIU has given up 78.0 ppg on defense. The Warriors' goal is chaos, as they have a league-best 10.50 steals per game average, along with the league's best turnover margin (+5.50).
- Senior guard Juvaris Hayes leads the nation in steals, with 85 so far this season.
- The two schools have met before, in both divisions. LIU (formerly Brooklyn) and Merrimack faced off in 1974, with LIU taking the win by eight points. And LIU (formerly Post) and Merrimack faced off 16 times at the Division II level, splitting the series 8-8.
- The two teams will get their fill of each other, as they will face off twice in one week. The Warriors will return the trip, coming to downtown Brooklyn next weekend to take on the Sharks at home Saturday.
UP NEXT
LIU returns home for two big NEC rematches, hosting Mount St. Mary's Thursday night, before squaring off with the Warriors Saturday.
