Staten Island, NY (Sports Network) - C.J. Garner had 23 points to pace six
Long Island players in double figures, as the third-seeded Blackbirds knocked
off the No. 2 seed Wagner Seahawks, 94-82, in Northeast Conference Tournament
semifinal-round action at the Spiro Sports Center.
Jamal Olasewere had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Jason Brickman also
notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists in the win. The two-time
defending NEC champion Blackbirds (19-13) will face the winner of (1) Robert
Morris and (5) Mount St. Mary's in Tuesday's Championship Game. Booker Hucks
scored 14 points off the bench, and fellow reserves E.J. Reed and Troy Joseph
added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Seahawks (19-12) were unable to beat LIU for a third time this season,
despite 23 points from Jonathon Williams and 18 from Marcus Burton. Latif
Rivers had 13 points, albeit on 3-of-16 shooting from the floor. Kenneth Ortiz
finished with 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a losing effort.
LIU shot 59.3 percent from the floor and knocked down 6-of-10 3-pointers in
the first half, as the Blackbirds claimed a comfortable, 49-29 halftime lead.
They added to that margin in the second stanza behind an even better 72.7-
percent effort from the floor (16-of-22). LIU led by as many as 24 with 10
minutes to play. The Seahawks cut the deficit to 11 in the final three
minutes, but they were unable to draw any closer.
LIU's hot shooting was more than enough to overcome its 27 turnovers for the
game.
GAME NOTES:
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