Davis carries Sharks to NEC semis

Scores career-high 35 points in quarterfinal win

March 6, 2025 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Malachi Davis' 35-point night was just as impressive as the Sharks' defense in their quarterfinal round NEC Tournament victory over Chicago State in Downtown Brooklyn Wednesday night. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Malachi Davis and the Long Island University men’s basketball team are saving their best for last.

And it might just be good enough to get them into the NCAA Tournament.

Davis poured in a career-high 35 points in Downtown Brooklyn Wednesday night, catapulting the second-seeded Sharks to a 68-57 win over No. 7 Chicago State in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast Conference Tournament before 278 enthusiastic fans at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

LIU’s redshirt junior guard transferred here from Arizona State just in time to help the Sharks grab their first tournament victory under third-year head coach Rod Strickland.

Buoyed by the Toronto native’s penchant for scoring big, albeit never as big as Wednesday’s performance, the Sharks have won seven in a row and will host No. 3 St. Francis of Pennsylvania in Brooklyn on Saturday at high noon for the right to play in the NEC Championship Game on Tuesday night.

“I like where we’re at. I think we can get better,” said Strickland, who struggled to win nine games combined over his first two seasons here before guiding LIU to its first NEC semifinal since 2022.

Davis, who was named to the All-NEC First Team this week, led the Sharks with 17.7 points per game this year.

He put up 32 points in a 73-67 overtime defeat at Chicago State on Feb. 1, but LIU hasn’t lost since.

Davis wasn’t about to let the Sharks suffer a first-round upset on their home floor before a small but hearty crowd that weathered a rainy night to see LIU advance.

He knocked down 15-of-28 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers, to go with seven rebounds and seven assists while playing the full 40 minutes.

But Davis humbly declined to take credit for his scoring prowess after a game that saw the Sharks hold the Cougars to 37% shooting.

“Defense is our identity. We have to defend for 40 minutes,” he noted.

Senior Jamal Fuller added 13 points and freshman forward Shadrak Lasu added 10 points and 12 boards for LIU, which trailed briefly before going on a 14-5 run to open a 29-18 lead on Davis’ layup with 5:48 left in the first half.

The Cougars pulled within seven early in the second half, but Fuller drained a 3-pointer and Blake Lander cruised in for a layup to spark a 15-1 spurt that Davis highlighted with a dunk and another layup to build a 60-39 cushion with 8:31 to go.

Jalen Forrest had 17 points and Gabe Spinelli added 15 for Chicago State, which lost the battle along the boards, 47-23, in its first-ever NEC Tournament game.

Though Davis was unwilling to boast about his performance, Strickland made sure everyone knew how important he’s been to the Sharks’ progress.

“Probably his best all-around game. He’s been the catalyst for us all year,” Strickland noted.

The Sharks (18-15) split a pair of regular-season meetings with third-seeded SFU (15-17) this year, topping the Red Flash 64-51 in Brooklyn on Jan. 18 before suffering a 74-64 loss in Loretto, Pa., six days later.

SFU advanced to the conference semifinals with Wednesday’s 58-55 win over visiting Wagner behind 16 points from Riley Parker.

Top-seeded Central Connecticut State will host Fairleigh Dickinson in Saturday’s other semifinal.

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The Brooklyn College women’s basketball team advanced to their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament, where they’ll face No. 2 Bowdoin Friday night in Brunswick, Maine. Photo courtesy of BC Athletics

The winners of five consecutive CUNYAC championships, the Brooklyn College women’s basketball team will meet No. 2 Bowdoin Friday night in the opening round of the Division III NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs (17-11) beat top-seeded Hunter College, 59-54, last Thursday to grab Title V.

Junior guard and CUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Dior Dorsey led the way with 15 points for BC.

“I’m so proud of the way we played tonight,” Bulldogs second-year coach Megan Campbell said. “We had a lot of ups and downs this season including a number of injuries, but the team showed a lot of mental toughness to get to this point.”

“Words can’t describe what this championship feels like,” Dorsey added. “This season has been the definition of perseverance and I couldn’t be happier.”

Tip-off Friday is at 7:30 p.m. at Bowdoin in Brunswick, Maine. The winner will take on either Cortlandt or Endicott Saturday night at the same venue.

Sophomore LIU guard Janessa Williams earned NEC Prime Performer honors after averaging 20.0 points last week. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

SHARK BITES: Though they didn’t qualify for the NEC Tournament this year, the LIU women still have one game to play Thursday night against visiting Central Connecticut State. Sharks junior guard Sirviva Legions will try to cap her breakout campaign with her 20th straight double-digit scoring game. Sophomore guard Janessa Williams was named an NEC Prime Performer after averaging 18.0 points per game last week, including a career-high 23 points vs. Wagner. … Though he didn’t win NEC Player of the Year honors, Davis was the most impactful new player in the league this season. Also, he wasn’t alone in representing the Sharks when it came to league honors. Fuller was named to the All-NEC Second Team, senior guard Brent Davis received All-Defensive Team accolades and Lasu made the All-Rookie team. … Saturday’s noon showdown with SFU can be seen on ESPN-plus. If the Sharks reach Tuesday’ title game, it will be on ESPN2.