BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Long Island University men's basketball team will welcome borough rival St. Francis Brooklyn to the Steinberg Wellness Center Tuesday evening, as one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball renews the annual Battle of Brooklyn.
The two teams will be squaring off in the 45
th annual Battle of Brooklyn, with the winning squad taking home the Battle of Brooklyn trophy. The two teams, who have been fighting for borough bragging rights since 1928, will tip off for the second time this season at 5 p.m.
Beginning in the 1975-76 season, an annual Battle of Brooklyn game was dedicated in tribute to William "Buck" Lai and the late Danny Lynch, former athletic directors at LIU and St. Francis, respectively. The Battle of Brooklyn has been a tradition between the two schools in men's basketball for 45 years. Each year a Most Valuable Player trophy, named in honor of the two men, is awarded at the conclusion of each contest.
SHARK BITES
- LIU will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss at home Saturday. The Sharks couldn't overcome a sluggish start, and fell to Sacred Heart, 80-72.
- The SFBK matchup will be the third game in five days for the Sharks, in one of the toughest stretches of the season.
- LIU (12-14, 7-6 NEC) is still looking to clinch a spot in the postseason tournament. The Sharks are currently fourth in the standings of teams eligible for the postseason, but only hold a one game lead over two other teams for that crucial first round home game.
- LIU leads the all-time Battle of Brooklyn series, 25-19, but the Terriers hold the most recent title, having won at home in 2019. In the historical matchup that dates back to 1928, LIU also holds the edge overall, with a 69-44 series record. LIU has won six of the last 10 matchups, but the two teams have split the series for the last couple of years. Earlier this season, LIU won in Brooklyn Heights, 69-66.
- The Terriers are currently 11-14 overall, and 5-8 in the Northeast Conference, just two games behind the Sharks in the current standings.
UP NEXT
The Sharks will head across the Hudson to take on another local rival in Fairleigh Dickinson, Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m., before heading west to face off against Saint Francis U., Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m.
