Sharks look to win their way into NECs

LIU to battle Bryant this week with tourney spot on line

February 23, 2021 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ty Flowers improved his NEC Player of the Year chances and LIU's NEC Tournament hopes last week in Downtown Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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The long, strange ride that has been the 2020-21 men’s basketball season for the Long Island University Sharks is coming to a close this week.

Unless, of course, head coach Derek Kellogg’s team can find its way into the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament.

The Sharks kept their postseason hopes alive last weekend, sweeping a two-game set from visiting Central Connecticut State on Saturday and Sunday.

In the opener, senior Ty Flowers continued his campaign for NEC Player of the Year honors by scoring 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, handing out seven assists and picking up two steals as LIU rolled to an 87-84 triumph over the visiting Blue Devils at a still-fanless Steinberg Wellness Center.

On Sunday, Flowers again showed why he is one of the top players in the league, amassing 26 points, 11 boards, six helpers, four blocked shots and two steals in an 81-79 win.

According to the NEC, Flowers’ stat line has been matched just once in the past decade as former LSU standout and NBA forward Ben Simmons accomplished the feat.

The two much-needed wins pulled LIU (9-7 NEC) into a virtual tie with Merrimack and Sacred Heart (both 8-6) for the final two spots in the four-team tourney.

Though they trail both teams by percentage points, the Sharks can go a long way toward sealing up a playoff spot this week as they visit second-seeded Bryant (8-4) on Thursday and Friday in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Kellogg’s crew, which lost in the NEC semifinals to top-seeded Robert Morris last March, is trying to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, his first year at the helm in Downtown Brooklyn.

If or when they do wrap up a postseason spot, the Sharks will continue to play in front of empty seats.

The NEC revealed earlier this week that it will begin its spring sports program without spectators at home events due to the continuing impact of COVID-19, which has already altered this entire regular season and changed the league’s playoff format from the original eight-team field.

New York State policy dictates that arenas or stadiums with less than a 10,000-seat capacity must remain fanless until further notice.

“As Long Island University continues to be a leader for providing a safe environment for intercollegiate athletics, the implementation of the NYS non-spectator protocol is imperative for the overall health and safety of the Shark fan base, student-athletes, coaches and support staff, notwithstanding the immediate campus population comprised of students, faculty and staff,” said LIU Director of Athletics Dr. William E. Martinov Jr.

“We will continue to embrace the challenges of this unique time with flexibility and compliance, and we thank our dedicated, passionate fans for their continued, unbridled support.”

Fans or no fans, the Sharks have found a way to remain in the hunt thus far this year.

They’ll try to extend the campaign beginning Thursday night at 7 p.m., within the confines of Bryant’s Chace Athletic Center.

Unique McLean and the St. Francis Terriers aren’t eliminated, but don’t have a very good chance of going to the NEC Tournament. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

Unfortunately, the Sharks aren’t likely to be joined by their neighborhood rivals if they do qualify for the NEC Tournament.

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers likely had their postseason hopes dashed Sunday afternoon on Remsen Street in their home finale, suffering an 88-82 loss to visiting Sacred Heart just one day after knocking off the Pioneers, 88-76, behind 22 points from senior guard Chauncey Hawkins.

Hawkins put up 22 points again in the rematch, but the Terriers (8-8) had their season-high three-game winning streak snapped and slipped into seventh place in the conference, leaving them on the outside looking in at the tournament.

SFC will be looking for a miracle this week in Andover, Massachussetts, where it will visit third-place Merrimack for a two-game set beginning Thursday at 6 p.m.

Though they might not make the NECs even if they sweep the Warriors, the Terriers could be helping the Sharks’ playoff push with a win or two this week.

Whether they want to or not.

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LIU’s Brandy Thomas scored her 1,000th career point during last Friday night’s win at Central Connecticut State. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

Neither LIU’s nor SFC’s women’s squads will make it to the four-team NEC Tournament this year.

The Sharks (5-11), however, are building hope for next year.

Though they lost 11 of their first 14 games, the Sharks will enter their two-game set with Bryant on Sunday riding a two-game winning streak after sweeping Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn., last week.

Junior standout Brandy Thomas made history in Friday’s finale, putting up nine points, including the 1,000th of her career at the Downtown school on a driving layup with 29 seconds remaining in the first half.

Thomas is the 20th Shark to reach the milestone, which she figures to build on this coming weekend and during her senior season.

The Terriers (4-10) are also eliminated from postseason contention, though their season was put on pause due to coronavirus concerns last week.

SFC hasn’t played since posting a Valentine’s Day win over St. Francis (Pa.) at the Pope Center.

The Terriers have still not postponed or cancelled their season-ending two-game series with Merrimack here beginning Thursday, according to the team’s website.