HACKENSACK, N.J. – Down one point at halftime, the Long Island University men's basketball team (16-15, 12-4 NEC) once again surged behind a strong second-half defensive effort, downing Fairleigh Dickinson University (12-19, 8-8 NEC), 74-55, on Saturday evening at Bogota Savings Bank Center. The Sharks closed the regular season by winning a sixth consecutive game, their second winning streak of six games or more this season, and completing the season sweep of FDU.
In the first half, LIU allowed FDU to shoot 55.5 percent (12-22) from the field and 2-for-8 from 3-point range, as the Knights took a 32-31 lead into the locker room.
In the second half the script flipped. LIU held FDU to 29.6-percent shooting (8-27) and 0-for-10 from 3, while the Sharks upped their offensive performance shooting 55.6 percent from the floor in the second.
LIU outscored FDU 43-23 in the second half, steadily building the lead to as large as 20 points, 74-54, after a
Jamal Fuller 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining.
Malachi Davis led the Sharks with 18 points, reaching double figures for the 25
th time in 30 games. Fuller followed with 14 points and seven rebounds. Jalen "Roc" Lee scored 13,
Blake Lander added 11, and
Shadrak Lasu posted the third double-double of his freshman campaign with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
LIU returns to action on Wednesday night, opening postseason play in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference Championship. The Sharks have secured the No. 2 seed in the field and await the announcement of the tournament bracket.
