Hernandez struggles as LIU loses in NCAA Tournament play-in game

Radford shuts down Blackbirds in March Madness opener

March 14, 2018 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Joel Hernandez carried the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds to the NCAA Tournament, but was unable to get past Radford’s tenacious defense Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio. AP Photo by John Minchillo

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The LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds were only going to go as far as Joel Hernandez could carry them this season.

And when the dynamic fifth-year senior could no longer heft the load for the Downtown Brooklyn program, the dream of winning its first-ever NCAA Tournament game ended with a thud in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday night.

Hernandez, the NEC Tournament MVP and leader of the Blackbirds’ charge from the bottom of the league to conference champions, managed just eight points as LIU suffered a 71-61 loss to Radford in the NCAA’s First Four play-in game at University of Dayton Arena.

The Highlanders (23-12) entered the win-or-go-home contest knowing that stopping Hernandez would likely be the key to their advancement into the tournament’s first round against top-seeded Villanova Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

“He’s so strong and he can score in a variety of ways,” Radford coach Mike Jones admitted of LIU’s late-season hero. “We knew we weren’t going to shut him out. He had 32 in their championship game and just willed their team.”

While the Blackbirds’ collective will was strong throughout the contest, their top scoring threat wilted a bit in the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013, when LIU capped an historic run of three consecutive NEC crowns.

Hernandez went a dismal 3-of-11 from the floor, including 1-of-5 on 3-pointers. He committed a game-high six turnovers — three in each half — and pulled down only two rebounds while collecting four fouls and appearing out of rhythm throughout his 35 minutes on the floor.

His biggest contribution came with 38 seconds remaining in the first half, when he drained a 3-pointer to cut LIU’s deficit to 30-28 at the half.

But the 6-foot-3 slasher from Teaneck, N.J., and his teammates combined to shoot just 7-of-23 from the floor over the final 20 minutes, including no field goals over the last seven minutes.

“When [Hernandez] hit that shot at the end of the first half, we told our guys, ‘Hey, understand now he’s coming at you with both barrels blazing in the second half.’” Jones said.

“And we just tried to make it tough on him.”

Sophomore guard Jashaun Agosto led LIU with 16 points and junior Raiquan Clark added 14 before fouling out for the Blackbirds, who finished the year at 18-17 overall but found a way to get to Dayton.

LIU had to win its final two regular-season games just to earn the No. 4 seed in the NEC tourney.

The Blackbirds defeated neighborhood rival St. Francis Brooklyn in the opening round, rallied from a big second-half deficit to stun Fairleigh Dickinson in the semifinals and shocked top-seeded Wagner in the championship game behind Hernandez’s herculean effort.

However, LIU was never ever to muster any type of offensive consistency or flow in Dayton, costing them a shot at yet another prime-time nationally televised contest Thursday.

“I mean, we needed to bring energy from the start,” Agosto said. “They came with energy. We came with a little energy, but they hit us with the first punch.”

The Blackbirds appeared to absorb most of Radford’s early blows, clawing their way to within two points again with 4:37 remaining.

Hernandez missed a driving layup and his own rebound of that attempt on LIU’s next possession with a chance to tie.

Travis Fields Jr. took advantage on the other end, knocking down a 3-pointer to give Radford a 64-59 advantage with 3:33 left.

“So they were ahead for the majority of the game, and then we brought a different type of energy and that’s when we got up,” Agosto added. “Then we kind of slipped back down and they got ahead.”

Fields Jr. and Ed Polite Jr. scored 13 points apiece for the Highlanders, who earned the right to move on while sending the Blackbirds back to Flatbush Avenue.

“Basketball is about a game of runs,” noted Polite Jr., who also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

“So, we knew they’re a good team, so they’re going to make shots,” he added. “So, we just had to remain focused and go with the game plan. And that’s to pressure them even though they’re a fast-paced team and don’t give them any easy baskets.”

First-year LIU head coach Derek Kellogg, who replaced Jack Perri last spring under a bit of criticism following the Blackbirds’ 20-win campaign in 2016-17, wanted his players to remember everything they had accomplished after the disappointing performance.

“I wanted to let the guys know and the administration and staff at LIU how proud I am of our team,” Kellogg said. “We had to battle through some adversity throughout the year and continue to push and fight forward.

“What a really great group of kids who represented our university at the highest level,” he added. “We didn’t come away with a victory today, but I thought we played our hearts out. I thought they gave everything they had, like they did all season long. And I’m just happy to be a part of this LIU family and head coach of this team for the season.”