BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University men's basketball team (20-10, 14-3 NEC) pulled away in the second half to claim its 20th win of the season, defeating Chicago State University 73-56 at home on Thursday night. 

LIU took an early 8-4 lead at the first media timeout, later extending its lead to 19-12 midway through the first quarter. Chicago State began to chip away at the Shark lead, mounting an 11-3 scoring lead to take a 23-22 over LIU. Tied at 26, graduate student Jamal Fuller was fouled on a three-point attempt and connected on all three free throws to put the Sharks back on top, with LIU later taking a 32-31 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

Chicago State recaptured the lead early in Thursday's second half, but a layup by junior Jomo Goings tied the game again at 42. LIU marched on a 16-2 scoring run over the next six minutes of action, taking the lead and building a double-digit lead, eventually claiming its 17-point home victory. 

Jamal Fuller led all scorers with 24 points, while redshirt senior Malachi Davis (17 points) and Goings (10) also finished in double figures. Sophomore Shadrak Lasu collected nine rebounds, while senior Greg Gordon led LIU with five assists.  

LIU secured its 20th win of the season for the first time in the Sharks era of the program, and the first time since the 2016-17 season. 

In the first half of Thursday's game, Davis scored his 1000th career point in a Shark uniform; the Scarborough, Canada native totaled 565 points over his 2024-25 campaign, and entered Thursday's game seven points shy of the millennium mark at LIU. 

LIU returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. to host FDU in its regular season finale.