Sharks remain unbeaten in Brooklyn

LIU edges SFU in OT to improve to 5-0 at home this year

January 12, 2022 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Eral Penn and the Sharks protected their home court for the fifth straight time this year Saturday, edging SFU in overtime. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Apparently, home is where the heart is.

And certainly where the wins are when it comes to the Long Island University men’s basketball team.

Brooklyn is the only place the Sharks have managed to emerge victorious this year, going 0-9 on the road and a perfect 5-0 at the Steinberg Wellness Center following Saturday’s 75-70 overtime victory against Northeast Conference rival Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania).

A crowd of 113 watched the Sharks (5-9, 1-2 NEC) squander a 13-point second-half lead to the visiting Red Flash (4-11, 0-3) before Ty Flowers, Eral Penn, Kyndall Davis and Alex Rivera put SFU away in the extra session.

Flowers, a strong candidate for NEC Player of the Year honors, scored a team-high 21 points.

Penn added 15 points and seven assists and Davis finished with 11 points for the Sharks, who have won back-to-back conference games and four of six overall.

Knotted at 70 apiece in the waning moments of OT, the Sharks got a boost from Rivera, who snapped the deadlock on a 3-pointer with under 10 seconds to play.

Flowers added two free throws as LIU climbed into a three-way tie for fourth place in the league, which will send nine teams to the NEC Tournament later this year instead of the traditional eight.

The Sharks will try to complete their first three-game winning streak of the season Saturday on Flatbush Avenue, where they will host Central Connecticut State at 2 p.m.

The St. Francis University men’s squad played a strong first half in Brooklyn Heights Saturday only to see Mount St. Mary’s come storming back following intermission for a 69-61 triumph in front of 187 disappointed fans at the Pope Center.

Rob Higgins put up 13 points to lead four Terriers (4-11, 1-3) in double figures in scoring, but it wasn’t enough as SFC was unable to build on last Thursday’s NEC home win over SFU.

The Terriers, who are clinging to the ninth and final tournament spot in the NEC will try to bolster their postseason position at Wagner College in Staten Island Saturday at 1 p.m.

Patrick Emilien and the rest of the Terriers saw their hopes of winning back-to-back NEC games dashed by visiting Mt. St. Mary’s on Saturday in Brooklyn Heights. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

On the women’s side, the Terriers have bounced back nicely from a cancellation and a pair of forfeits due to COVID-19 protocols.

SFC (6-6, 2-0) has won back-to-back conference games, including Saturday’s 62-59 win over Mount St. Mary’s.

Ally Lassen scored a team-high 19 points for the Terriers, who will host Wagner here Saturday.

The LIU women are still searching for victory No. 1 this season after dropping a 66-50 decision at SFU on Saturday.

Senior Brandy Thomas poured in 18 points for the Sharks (0-12, 0-4 NEC), who will visit CCSU on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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In other local college sports news, SFC Brooklyn forward El Mahdi Youssoufi on Tuesday became the first Terrier selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft while he was still attending the Remsen Street school.

Reigning MLS champion New York City Football Club picked the native of Morocco in the third round.

The selection capped a banner senior campaign for Youssoufi, who was named 2021 Northeast Conference Player of the Year and placed on the United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast First Team.

He finished the regular season with 25 points (12 goals, 1 assist), scoring in all but two games this fall.

SFC forward El Mahdi Youssofi was selected in the third round of the MLS Draft Tuesday by reigning champion NYCFC. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

The senior forward tallied 20 goals over his three seasons on Remsen Street.

“We are so excited for Mahdi on being the first St. Francis Brooklyn player to be drafted right out of school,” said SFC head coach Tom Giovatto.

“His growth over the past season has been incredibly impressive, and his dedication to his craft has earned him this opportunity with the top team in the MLS.”

Youssofi helped lead the Terriers to a second consecutive NEC Tournament championship appearance in October, and was an integral part of the 2020-21 team that earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory.

“I am beyond thrilled for our very own El Mahdi Youssoufi! He is a shining example what can happen when you combine hard work with a relentless pursuit of success,” SFC Athletic Director Irma Garcia commented.

“Congratulations to a true gentleman with exceptional speed on the field, who exemplifies the true meaning of Brooklyn Tough. This is truly a historical SFC moment.”