Long Island University Clinches NEC Title
On Tuesday night in New York, Long Island University achieved a significant milestone by clinching the Northeast Conference (NEC) title with a 79-70 victory over Mercyhurst University. The Sharks, who finished the regular season as the top seed, solidified their place in the NCAA Tournament with a strong performance, highlighted by standout contributions from players Malachi Davis and Greg Gordon, who both netted 24 points each.
Key Performers and Game Highlights
In addition to the leading duo, reserve Mason Porter-Brown added 14 points, while Jamal Fuller made his presence felt with a double-double, contributing 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Long Island’s shooting was impressive, as they converted 56% of their attempts from the field (29 of 52), including a notable 56% from three-point range (5 of 9). In contrast, Mercyhurst, which is in the process of transitioning from Division II and is currently ineligible for NCAA tournament play, shot 55% from the field but struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 16 of 29.
For the Lakers, Bernie Blunt III was a standout performer with 26 points, while Qadir Martin had a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Jake Lemelman contributed 12 points and eight assists.
Game Dynamics
The contest was tightly contested, and at one point, the teams were deadlocked at 63 points with just over four minutes left in the game. However, Davis sparked a decisive turnaround by hitting a three-pointer followed by a layup, allowing Long Island to take control and maintain the lead for the rest of the match, after trailing briefly earlier.
The Sharks led by a slim margin of 42-40 at halftime. Mercyhurst opened the game strong, starting with a 5-0 run. But after a fleeting lead of 50-46 by the Lakers early in the second half, Long Island’s 8-0 response put them back in command.
Historic Achievement
This victory marks Long Island’s first appearance in the NEC Tournament finals since 2018, and the Sharks have an impressive 7-3 record in NEC championship games throughout their history. Furthermore, with 24 wins this season, the Sharks celebrated their best season since going 25-8 in the 2011-12 season, in which they also claimed the NEC championship title.
