BROOKLYN, N.Y. – LIU men's basketball junior Eral Penn put up a historic performance Thursday night at the Steinberg Wellness Center, but it wasn't enough to propel his team past Fairleigh Dickinson, as the Knights won the battle, 78-70. Penn had 33 points, 20 rebounds, six steals and two blocks on the night.
 

• He's the first NEC MBB player to have at least 30 pts and 20 rebounds since 1998.
• He's the only player nationally with 30 pts/20 rebounds/at least five steals since 2010.
• And his 20 rebounds ties for 20th on the NEC all-time single-game record list.
• He's the first LIU player to have at least 20 pts and 20 rebounds in a single game since 2012.

 
FDU would jump out to an early 7-1 lead on the Sharks, putting the home team back on their heels a bit. The Knights would continue to lead LIU for most of the first half, until Penn sparked a run. He and senior Ty Flowers would go on a 13-4 run that spanned three minutes, and gave the Sharks the lead, 25-23 with just over six minutes left in the half. But the Knights took control over the remainder of the period, and would lead LIU, 40-37 at the break.
 
In the second half, sophomore Alex Rivera would drain a three early on to knot it back up at 40-40, but every time LIU would start to make progress on the Knights, FDU would answer in kind. At the 15-minute mark, the visiting team started a run that would end up being the difference in the game. The Knights outscored LIU, 12-3 over four and a half minutes, going up 61-48. Another 7-2 run shortly after gave FDU their largest lead of the game, 68-52 with 8:21 to play.
 
Penn would drive LIU in the final eight minutes of action, scoring 10 of the team's 18 points, including back-to-back layups that would bring the Sharks within 10, but it wouldn't be enough, as FDU took the win, 78-70.
 
SHARK BITES

• Senior Ty Flowers also had a strong performance, with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
• Jahlil Jenkins led FDU with 27 pts in the win.
• With the loss, LIU moves to 6-4 in NEC action, still in a tie for first place in the standings.
• Up next, the two teams will face off once more, Friday, December 5 at 5 p.m.