BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU men's basketball team saw their lead slip away late in the game Thursday night in the Steinberg Wellness Center, but the Sharks battled back and held on to beat Sacred Heart, 79-75.
 
Eral Penn led scoring with 22 points, in a total team win that saw five Sharks score in double digits. The senior was also a force defensively, with a career-high six blocks.
 
SHARK BITES

• LIU was without Ty Flowers, Alex Rivera and head Coach Derek Kellogg, who were serving a one-game suspension. Assistant coach Jim Mack served as the acting head coach Thursday.
• The Sharks led for 37 of the game's 40 minutes Thursday. LIU jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, and would lead by as many as 15 points in the half, 43-28 with 1:16 to play in the first.
• But starting at that moment, and running into the first four minutes of the first half, the Pioneers went on a 17-2 run, tying the game up, 45-45 with 16:16 to play. The Sharks would widen the lead back up to 10 points, but the Pioneers kept threatening. The visitors would take the lead back for the first time in the second half, 61-60 with 5:55 to play.
• The Sharks finished the final five minutes of the game going 7-for-10 from the free throw line, and couldn't miss from the field, hitting 6-of-7 shots to pull out the 79-75 win.
• LIU had nine blocks as a team, and out-rebounded SHU 43-30. The Sharks also had 21 points off of Pioneer turnovers.
• Penn led LIU with 22 points, nine rebounds, six blocks and four assists in 36 minutes of action.
• Tre Wood had 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steaks, while sophomore Kyndall Davis had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Graduate student Isaac Kante had 13 points (shooting 6-for-9), along with six rebounds, while Andre Washington had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Freshman Quion Burns added seven rebounds for the Sharks on defense.
• With the win, LIU is 9-12 on the season (including a 7-1 record in the Steinberg Wellness Center), and 6-5 in the NEC. Up next, the Sharks prepare for a rematch with league-leading Wagner on Staten Island, Saturday, February 5 at 1 p.m.