BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Malachi Davis scored a career-high 35 points and the second-seeded Long Island University men's basketball team (17-15, 12-4 NEC) dropped No. 7 seed Chicago State University (4-28, 4-12 NEC), 68-57, in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Wednesday night at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Davis added seven assists and seven rebounds, as the Sharks set a new season-best winning streak, winning a seventh consecutive game.

LIU has secured a spot in the conference semifinals for the first time in Rod Strickland's tenure as head coach and the program's first time since the 2021-2022 season. With 17 overall wins, the Sharks have posted their highest win total since the 2017-2018 season, when the then-LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds won 18 games.

After a back-and-forth start, LIU opened up a double-figure lead late in the first half, when Davis rattled off 10 consecutive LIU points, giving the Sharks a 27-16 edge with 7:33 remaining until halftime.

LIU led 36-28 at break behind 22 first-half points from Davis.

In the second half, the Sharks pulled away, leading by as many as 21 points.

Jamal Fuller followed Davis with 13 points and seven rebounds. Shadrak Lasu recorded his fourth double-double of his freshman season with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks.

For the game, LIU shot 45.5 percent from the floor and held Chicago State to 37.7-percent shooting.

The Cougars were led by 17 points from Jalen Forrest, 15 from Gabe Spinelli, and 11 from Quincy Allen.

The Sharks return to action on Saturday in the semifinals of the NEC Tournament versus No. 3 seed Saint Francis University at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.