Sharks drop season opener at Ole Miss

Davis' impress, but LIU can't keep up with Rebels

November 6, 2024 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Sophomore forward Jason Steele and the LIU Sharks couldn't keep up with the Ole Miss Rebels Monday night in their season opener. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Redshirt junior Malachi Davis scored 19 points and so did senior guard Brent Davis, but it wasn’t enough as the Long Island University men’s basketball team opened its season with a 90-60 loss at Mississippi on Monday in front of 7,982 fans at The Sandy and John Black Pavillion.

Malachi Davis, who transferred from Arizona State after appearing in six games for the Sun Devils last year, scored LIU’s first 10 points and had 13 before intermission as the Sharks (0-1) fell behind 44-27.

The 6-foot-4 native of Toronto, Canada went 7-of-15 from the floor, drained a pair of 3-pointers, grabbed three rebounds and picked up a steal in his first career game for LIU, which forged a 10-10 deadlock in the early going before Ole Miss (1-0) pulled away for good with a 10-0 run.

Brent Davis finished 5-of-12 from the field and 7-of-9 at the line, but was the only other Shark in double figures in scoring as the Rebels dominated along the interior, finishing with 13 offensive rebounds and 18 second-chance points.

Senior Jaylen Murray scored 24 points, including the 1,000th of his career, for Ole Miss, which drained 9-of-22 shots from beyond the arc.

Junior guard Blake Lander had seven points and four boards off the bench for the Sharks, who will host Pratt Institute in their home opener at the Steinberg Wellness Center Saturday at noon.

Sophomore guard Janessa Williams scored nine points, but LIU dropped its season opener at Lehigh on Monday. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

The LIU women also got off to a rough start Monday, suffering an 83-59 defeat at Lehigh before 467 fans at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Freshman Shanaii Gamble poured in 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Brooklyn native Sirviva Legions added 10 for the Sharks (0-1), who will head home to host St. John’s Friday night at 6 p.m.

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With a challenging three-game road trip looming, the Brooklyn Nets hope to at least get back one of their big men by Friday night, when they visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.

Second-year forward Noah Clowney, who sat out Monday’s rousing 106-104 victory over Memphis at Downtown’s Barclays Center due to hip soreness, could be back in the fold when the surprising Nets (4-4) battle the Celtics.

The 6-foot-9 Clowney suffered the injury on an awkward fall in the late stages of Sunday’s loss to Detroit in Brooklyn. He was listed as questionable for Monday, but sat out alongside fellow bigs Ben Simmons (back management) and Trendon Watford (hamstring).

Nets coach Jordi Fernandez indicated prior to Monday’s win that Clowney could be back soon, and was held out for precautionary reasons.

“He had an MRI this morning. Clean, everything clear,” Fernandez revealed. “But bruised, sore, so we don’t want to risk it. We want to make sure he’s ok. … I think it’s gonna be soon. But that’s the status.”

Simmons, who has been daunted by back and knee issues the past several seasons, was simply sitting out the second half of the back-to-back.

Brooklyn has been playing small since the season began without Watford and reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring), who could be back later this month, but hasn’t been available to the Nets since training camp.

Fernandez indicated that Watford was progressing and could also be back in the rotation as soon as this weekend.

The Nets hope to have 6-foot-9 forward Noah Clowney back in the rotation Friday when they visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

The rookie coach’s diminutive lineup found a way to get past the Grizzlies for the second time in less than a week despite being outrebounded 44-37 and giving up 66 points in the paint.

“We covered for each other. We pressured full-court. We didn’t do that last game against Detroit very well,” ceded Brooklyn point guard Dennis Schroder after scoring 20 points to help the Nets move back to .500.

After visiting Boston (7-1), the Nets will go to unbeaten Cleveland (8-0) Saturday before wrapping up the trip Monday in New Orleans (3-5).

The Nets will return to Barclays next Wednesday to host the Celtics at 7:30 p.m.