BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University men's basketball team (7-7, 1-0 NEC) opened conference play with a defeat of Central Connecticut State University (6-6, 0-1 NEC), taking down the Blue Devils 84-78 inside the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn.  

LIU led the Blue Devils 37-34 after the first half, and overcame a late CCSU rally in the second half to earn a six-point win in the NEC opener on Friday night.  

CCSU jumped out to an early lead on Friday, but a three-pointer by graduate student Jamal Fuller tied the game at 10 nearly five minutes into the ballgame. A 6-0 scoring run by the Blue Devils was answered by back-to-back threes from Fuller, as the Sharks later took the lead on a three-pointer by junior Mason Porter-Brown.  

LIU never trailed after Porter-Brown's three-pointer, as the Blue Devils and Sharks traded scores throughout the second half; LIU's lead was never more than eight points, which came with just over a minute left on a layup by senior Greg Gordon.  

Redshirt senior Malachi Davis tied for a game-high 23 points on Friday, while Fuller (20 points), Porter-Brown (18), and Gordon (12) also finished in double figures. Porter-Brown recorded his first double-double of the season, collecting 12 rebounds, while Davis finished with eight assists, tying his season-high. 

LIU returns to the floor on Sunday, traveling to face Chicago State University. Tip off is at 2 p.m. ET.