LIU Brooklyn tops Fairleigh Dickinson 78-77, makes NEC final
NEW YORK (AP) Raiquan Clark scored 28 points, Joel Hernandez added 25 and Jashaun Agosto made both free throws in his only trip to the line with 3.6 seconds on the clock and LIU Brooklyn won a bruising semifinal 78-77 over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday to advance to the Northeast Conference Tournament Championship game.
The No. 4-seed Blackbirds (17-16), making their first championship appearance since 2013, will play at top-seeded Wagner (23-8) on Tuesday.
LIU Brooklyn led 71-64 with 5:30 remaining before Fairleigh Dickinson mounted an 11-0 run to lead 75-71 1:58. It was the Knights' first lead since midway through the first half.
The teams traded body blows in the last two minutes and Julian Batts hit a wide-open 3 to tie 76-76 and set up the final minute.
Missed free throws hurt Fairleigh Dickinson (19 of 27) which missed four of its last six. After Kaleb Bishop missed two with nine seconds remaining, Agosto drove the length of the court and was fouled at the rim, setting up the winning free throws.
Darnell Edge led the Knights with 23 points and Bishop added 19 with a school-record 22 rebounds.
LIU-Brooklyn has won four straight since dropping a 78-74 decision at Wagner.
