BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Long Island University men's basketball team couldn't overcome a sluggish start Saturday afternoon in the Steinberg Wellness Center, falling to Sacred Heart, 80-74. The Sharks move to 12-14 overall with the loss, and 7-6 in the Northeast Conference.
 
GAME BREAKDOWN
Sacred Heart came out strong in Brooklyn Saturday, opening the game on a 13-5 run. But after a media timeout, the Sharks came surging back, scoring 10 unanswered points to take the lead, 15-13. The two teams would go shot for shot for a couple minutes of action, until with 7:08 left in the first half, SHU went on another run. The Pioneers scored nine straight points to widen the lead to 31-23, and then in the final five minutes, outscored LIU 12-4, to take a 43-29 lead at the break.
 
The Sharks started to make up ground in the second half, including a layup from junior Ty Flowers and a three from Jermaine Jackson Jr. that cut the lead to 49-43. But Sacred Heart answered before LIU could get any closer. Jackson would score back-to-back baskets midway through the period that would keep LIU close, 58-50 with 11:35 to play, but the Pioneers continued to make defensive stops and convert on offense, slowly growing the lead. A 5-0 run would put them up, 65-51, and from there, they held the Sharks at arm's length, eventually winning by a score of 80-72.
 
SHARK BITES

• Sophomore Virshon Cotton led LIU with 14 points, going 5-for-8 from the field, along with five rebounds and two steals.
• Senior Raiquan Clark also had 14 points along with four rebounds.
• Junior Ty Flowers had 13 points and nine rebounds, along with three assists, two blocks and a steal, while sophomore Jermaine Jackson Jr. also had 13 points for LIU in the loss.
• Junior EJ Anosike led Sacred Heart with 26 points and 22 rebounds.

 
UP NEXT
LIU hosts St. Francis Brooklyn Tuesday, February 18, for the annual Battle of Brooklyn. The game will air on ESPNU, and is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.