BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Despite holding a 12-point lead in the first half, and rallying in the final minutes to threaten to take the win, the Long Island University men's basketball team fell to Mount St. Mary's at home Thursday night, 67-63. The Sharks (10-13, 5-5) were led by 20 points from senior
Raiquan Clark.
GAME BREAKDOWN
The game got off to a promising start for the home team, as LIU was on fire early in the game. The Sharks jumped out to a 10-4 lead on the Mount in the first four minutes, and used an 11-3 run to widen that lead to 21-9 with 13:37 to play in the half. But just three minutes later, LIU went cold, and the Mountaineers caught fire, scoring 13 unanswered points to come from behind and take the lead, 26-25 with just under seven minutes left in the first half. Senior
Julian Batts would hit a three pointer to give the Sharks the lead once more, 28-26, but Mount finished the period on a 12-5 run, taking a 38-33 lead into the halftime break.
The Sharks showed signs of life early in the second period, when a three pointer from Clark and a layup from junior
Ty Flowers brought LIU within two, 40-38, but Mount was able to hold on to the lead. The Mountaineers would use a 9-2 run to give them their widest lead of the day, 49-40, but LIU would continue to battle back. The Sharks would bring it back within two or three points multiple times in the final 10 minutes of the game, including two three pointers from
Jermaine Jackson Jr. in the final 60 seconds, but Mount would make seven of their 10 free throws in the final 95 seconds, holding on to take their second win of the year over LIU, 67-63.
SHARK BITES
- Senior Raiquan Clark led the Sharks with 20 points and eight rebounds, going 8-of-14 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown.
- Junior Ty Flowers had 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals, shooting 50 percent from the field.
- Sophomore Jermaine Jackson Jr. had 15 points, including two late threes that kept the Sharks in the game, along with a team-high four assists.
- Mount St. Mary's scored 21points off of LIU's 12 turnovers.
- The 63 points is LIU's lowest point total of the season so far.
- Up next, the Sharks host Merrimack, Saturday, February 8 at 4:30 p.m.