Acker leads Sharks back into the hunt

Freshman sensation has LIU off to best NEC start in 12 years

January 10, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Freshman guard and Brooklyn native Eric Acker has LIU off to its best conference start in 12 years. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Eric Acker learned a thing or two about winning at Brooklyn’s Eagle Academy for Young Men, where he led the school to its first-ever borough and city championships last March.

The freshman guard and East New York native didn’t have to travel far to bring his winning ways to college with him.

Following his second Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honor, Acker has the rebuilding Long Island University men’s basketball team off to its best start in league play in a dozen seasons.

The 6-foot-2 standout had his most impressive Division I performance last Saturday, scoring 21 of his career-best 23 points in the first half of the Sharks’ 73-68 triumph over Stonehill in front of 340 fans at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Massachusetts.

Acker went 9-of-20 from the floor, knocked down a quartet of 3-pointers, grabbed four rebounds, handed out a pair of assists and picked up a steal in 34 scintillating minutes.

Tai Strickland, son of head coach Rod Strickland, added 20 points and Ahmed Essahaty finished with 12 for the Sharks (3-11, 2-0 NEC), who only managed one conference win and three in 30 games overall last season.

Acker, who was also named an NEC Prime Performer this week along with Tai Strickland, averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds during LIU’s two wins last week, including a 69-67 victory over Wagner at Downtown’s Steinberg Wellness Center.

Tai Strickland, a graduate student guard, averaged 21.5 points during the Sharks’ conference-opening winning streak, giving the Sharks a potent 1-2 punch in the backcourt as they prepare to visit Sacred Heart on Saturday in Fairfield, Connecticut.

The LIU ladies were also looking to get off to a 2-0 start in NEC action Monday in Staten Island, but suffered a 75-66 loss in front of 487 fans at the Spiro Sports Center.

Senior guard Ashley Austin scored 15 points, junior Emaia O’Brien added 13 and third-year forward Amaya Dowdy added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Sharks (2-11, 1-1), who will host Sacred Heart in Brooklyn on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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The three-time defending CUNYAC champion women’s basketball squad at Brooklyn College will be hosting Hunter College Wednesday evening at the West Quad Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs (7-6, 2-1 CUNYAC) rebounded nicely after last week’s league loss at Baruch, rolling to a 64-27 rout of visiting Lehman Friday behind a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds from senior forward Sarah James.

Senior Sarah James will lead three-time defending CUNYAC champion Brooklyn College against visiting Hunter College on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

Sarah’s twin sister Ericka chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds for BC, which ran out to a 20-5 first-quarter advantage before cruising to its first win of 2024.

The BC men will also host Hunter Wednesday night, but these Bulldogs will be out to snap a six-game losing streak, including Friday’s 70-67 setback to Lehman.

Malik Dale scored 23 points, drilling 6-of-10 shots from 3-point range, and fellow junior guard Aaron Davis added 14 points for BC, which had evened the contest at 67-67 before Jayden Stephens sank a shot from beyond the arc with five seconds left for Lehman.

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The Nets won’t just be going to Paris this week to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, they’ll be taking more than a bit of Brooklyn with them.

Our borough’s NBA franchise will create a series of experiences for Parisians to enjoy including: a Brooklyn Nets-themed pizzeria, a tribute concert to The Notorious B.I.G., an exclusive collaboration with Brooklyn’s iconic fashion brand, KidSuper, a series of free-to-enter contests and a City Edition Designed by KAWS uniform experience.

Dennis Smith Jr. and the Nets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris on Thursday, hoping to rebound from Sunday’s home loss to Portland. AP Photo by Noah K. Murray

“We are excited to showcase the best of Brooklyn through a series of experiences across the City of Lights focused on food, fashion, art, music, and basketball,” said Andrew Karson, Chief Marketing Officer of BSE Global, parent company of The Brooklyn Nets.

“Brooklyn and Paris are two cultures rooted in community and creativity and our shared passions will be on full display through our Brooklyn Nets in Paris campaign,”

The Nets will play “host” to the Cavaliers at Accor Arena Thursday night, with the game scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. here. It will be televised by NBA TV.