Downtown

LIU Brooklyn wraps up non-conference schedule with loss to Hofstra

December 30, 2014 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Redshirt freshman Nura Zanna led the Blackbirds with 14 points and nine rebounds during LIU Brooklyn's loss to Hofstra during the Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese
Share this:

The LIU Brooklyn men’s basketball team turned a poor start to the season into a four-game winning streak, but that streak was snapped when Hofstra University beat the Blackbirds 88-62 during the Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival at Barclays Center on Sunday.

“This was not one of our better performances,” said LIU Brooklyn head coach Jack Perri. “Obviously, they made more than 10 threes in the game. We talked about taking away threes, and we didn’t do a good enough job of that. We didn’t play well, so we lost.”

Hofstra victimized the Blackbirds early with a strong three-point shooting that gave it a 20-point lead by halftime. Hofstra’s Ameen Tanksley finished with 32 points and eight rebounds and Juan’ya Green had a triple-double with 15 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.

The Blackbirds played much better in the second half, but ultimately could not overcome the huge, first-half deficit especially after Gerrell Martin left the game with a head injury. Nura Zanna finished with a team-high of 14 points and nine rebounds, Iverson Fleming had 13 all in the second half, and Joel Hernandez had 10.

Subscribe to our newsletters

LIU Brooklyn is now finished with the non-conference portion of its schedule. It started off weak with a 0-6 record, but rebounded to win its next four prior to Sunday afternoon, and finished with a 4-7 record overall.

After its loss to Hofstra, Perri and Fleming talked about how much the team has improved so far and the fact that they were now looking to get a fresh start against Northeast Conference opponents.

“I think back to our first game at St. John’s and it was not a pretty start, but I think we’ve gotten way better as the season has gone on,” Fleming said. “This game is over now so we move on and prepare for Bryant. We’re 0-0 again and now is the time where games really count. We all need to step up now and I think we’re ready to get it done.”

The Blackbirds face their first NEC team when they host Bryant at the Wellness Center on Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m.


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment