BROOKLYN, N.Y. — LIU men's basketball hung with the CAA preseason favorites, Towson, on Friday night.
 
Ultimately, the Sharks fell to the Tigers, 74-64, and moved to 1-6 overall.
 
LIU shot 44% from the field and 44% from deep.
 
The team's leading scorer, Marko Maletic, was able to give the offense a boost off the bench.
 
The sophomore guard scored 18 in the first 12 minutes, including four three pointers, and LIU led by as many as nine to begin.
 
The Sharks were shooting a scorching 60% from downtown through the first 20 minutes.
 
At the 16:59 mark, Quion Burns drove to the bucket and scored to tie the game, 4-4. From that moment on, LIU did not relinquish their lead until 10:08 was left to play.  
 
Both teams traded blows in the second half. The Tigers pushed ahead and led by five with 7:45 to go, but LIU answered with a 5-0 spurt and tied, ignited by two R.J. Greene layups.
 
Towson regained its lead and maintained its advantage to close out the contest.
 
Tre' Wood, the redshirt senior guard, had missed the last four games with an injury but returned to the starting lineup vs. the Tigers.
 
Wood finished with eight points, four assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes.
 
Burns and Maletic each finished with 18.
 
LIU returns to action on Monday at home vs. UMass Lowell at 7 p.m.