FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The LIU men's basketball cut the lead to just two points late in the game Wednesday night, but fell in its Northeast Conference opener to Sacred Heart, 69-65. Senior Ty Flowers led the Sharks with a career-high 36 points.
 
SHARK BITES

• Flowers accounted for half of LIU's offense in the Pitt Center Wednesday, going 13-for-23 from the field, and 6-for-10 from three-point range. He also had eight rebounds, a block and a steal.
• The Sharks led at the half, 37-34, having shot 46 percent from three point range (7-for-15) in the stanza. In the second half, LIU struggled, shooting just 28 percent from the field, and 13 percent from long distance.
• LIU had 20 fast break points in the win, but no offense from the bench, while the Pioneers had 14 points off the bench.
• Eral Penn had a double-double for LIU, with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Isaac Kante had 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
• Tre Wood led the Sharks with nine assists, while freshman Quion Burns had seven rebounds and two steals for LIU.
• With the loss, the Sharks are now 3-8 overall, and 0-1 in the NEC. Up next, LIU travels to take on Merrimack, Friday, December 31, in North Andover, Mass.