LIU Brooklyn Holds Off Men's Basketball in Second Half

The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team held off Central Connecticut in the second half for a 60-49 win on Thursday at the Steinberg Center in Brooklyn, NY. CCSU was within four points in the second half, but the Blackbirds held off the late charge

CCSU slipped to 2-14 overall and 0-5 in the Northeast Conference. LIU is now 11-7 overall and 4-1 in the NEC. 

The Blue Devils would build a 5-1 lead in the early going following a pair of foul shots by freshman Chris Williams. The Blackbirds came back with eight straight points and back-to-back three-pointers by Raul Frias would give LIU a 9-5 lead.

A jumper by freshman Harrison Kay would get CCSU within 16-15 before LIU Brooklyn outscored CCSU, 10-5, over the last 4:22 of the first half to build a 26-20 lead at the intermission. 

CCSU shot 30.4 percent in the opening period, but was just 1-of-4 from three-point range. The Blackbirds shot 35.5 percent overall and was 3-of-9 from the arc. Kay led CCSU with five points in the first half, while Iverson Fleming had seven points to lead LIU.

Jerome Frink scored seven straight for LIU to open the second half and the Blackbirds built a 33-22 lead with 15:14 to play.  

The Blue Devils would cut into the deficit behind 10 straight points from sophomore Austin Nehls. His three-pointer with 11:27 got CCSU within 38-34.

CCSU would be unable to cut the deficit any further and the LIU defense held the Blue Devils to just one field goal during a nearly six-minute stretch. Fleming would hit a three-pointer with 37 seconds to play and then hit four foul shots to settle the final margin. 

Senior Khalen Cumberlander and Nehls led CCSU with 13 points. Junior Mustafa Jones finished with 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. 

Central shot 35.4 percent overall from the field and was 4-of-8 from three-point range.

Fleming led LIU with 18 points. Frink scored 15 points in the second half to finish with 17 in the game. Nura Zanna had 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

The Blue Devils return home on Saturday, Jan. 14, to host Fairleigh Dickinson. The game will tip off at approximately 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.