LORETTO, Pa. - The Long Island University men's basketball team (19-9, 13-2 NEC) rallied from a late deficit to defeat Saint Francis University on the road on Thursday night, clinching at least a share of the NEC regular season title with the win. 

Thursday's first half was neck-and-neck, as the Sharks and Red Flash recorded 15 lead changes over the first 20 minutes of action. Midway through the first quarter, redshirt senior Malachi Davis put the Sharks ahead with a layup, with LIU extending its lead to 43-38 at the end of the first half. 

While the Sharks stretched the lead to as many as eight points early in the second half, Saint Francis charged back to tie the game at 56 with 14:09 left in the game. Each team found themselves tied again seven more times over the next eight minutes of the game, as a Red Flash three-pointer broke a 77-77 tie with 5:58 remaining. 

Saint Francis led by as many as seven points with under four minutes left, but the Sharks did not falter; made baskets by senior Greg Gordon, junior Jomo Goings, and Davis helped LIU bring the lead back within one. Following a made free throw by graduate student Jamal Fuller and a Saint Francis turnover, Goings tied the game at 89 with a pair of free throws.  

The Red Flash had a chance to take a late lead, but a missed free throw and rebound by Goings gave the Sharks possession late, and junior Mason Porter-Brown was put on the free throw line with six seconds left; the Gainesville, Florida native sunk both free throws, sealing LIU's road victory. 

Davis led LIU with 20 points, while Fuller (18), Goings (18), Gordon (18), and Porter-Brown (15) each finished in double figures. Goings collected a team-high seven rebounds, while Fuller and Gordon each totaled four steals in the win. 

With the win, LIU wins at least a share of the NEC regular season title for the first time since the 2011-12 season. This is LIU's seventh regular season title in program history, joining the 1982-83, 1983-84, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2010-11, and 2011-12 teams.  

The Sharks can secure an outright NEC title with a win over Mercyhurst University on Saturday, or a loss by Central Connecticut State University on Saturday. 

LIU stays on the road on Saturday, Feb. 21, when they travel to face the Lakers at 2 p.m.