Manny Ubilla (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) sank a three with two seconds left and Andre Harris (Detroit, MI/Robichaud) hit two free throws with one second on the clock to lead the Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team (9-8, 4-2 NEC) past host Long Island University (7-11, 3-4 NEC), 74-73, at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Knights entered the half down 37-27 and staged a late second-half comeback to overcome the Blackbirds, who led by as much as 14.
Harris notched a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Cameron Tyler (Jamaica, NY/Notre Dame Prep) recorded 17 points, Ubilla added 14 and Eric Hazard hit 4-of-5 from three-point range for 12 points.
Four of the Blackbirds' first five shots were from behind the arc, enabling LIU to take an 11-9 lead to start the game. A 16-4 run by Long Island gave them a double-digit lead, 27-13, 12 minutes into the first half. LIU was able to stretch its run and take a commanding 31-19 lead.
The Knights scored the next five straight to make it a seven-point game, 31-24. A lay-up by Harris followed by a three from Hazard put the game at 31-24 with 2:50 left in the half, but Aubin Scott went 4-for-4 from the line in the last two minutes of the first frame to give the Blackbirds a 37-27 half-time lead.
Hazard was 3-of-3 from three-point range in the first half to enter the break with nine points.
With the Knights down 13, 53-40, and 13 minutes remaining in the game, the Knights staged a 17-5 run to get back in the game.
Harris connected on two from the line and Ubilla sank a three to make the score 55-51. Harris then netted a jumper from just inside the arc to bring it down to a two-point game with just over eight minutes remaining and Tyler hit a floater in the lane to make it only a one-point Blackbird advantage, 58-57, with 6:39 on the clock.
LIU reeled off the next four points for a five point edge and took a six-point lead when Scott connected on his second shot of two from the line. The Knights out-scored LIU 8-4 over the next minute to whittle it back down to only a two-point game. Tyler took over, sinking two from the line and then Ubilla's steal led to a Tyler bucket that made it 67-65 with two minutes remaining.
Jaytornah Wisseh connected on two from the line for a four-point Long Island lead with eight seconds remaining. With two seconds left in regulation, Ubilla hit a clutch three on an assist from Tyler to make it a one-point game, 73-72.
The Fairleigh Dickinson defense forced out the ensuing inbounds pass from the Blackbirds with two seconds on the clock. Harris got the ball on the baseline on the Knights' in-bounds and was fouled on his way up.
With one second on the clock, Harris went to the line and sank the first to tie the game and the second for the win.
After not making any trips to the line in the first half, the Knights shot 81 percent in the second half. The Knights allowed the Blackbirds 4-of-6 from the perimeter in the first half, but held them to only 29 percent in the second. LIU out-scored the Knights in the paint, 34-18.
The 24 points were Harris' ninth 20-point game of the season and his seventh double-double. Ubilla went 4-for-6 from behind the arc and dished out five assists.
“I feel like I have five rabbits' feet in each pocket,” said Head Coach Tom Green. “This was another crazy game. For us to score five points in the last eight seconds to win it--- I'll be going to church tomorrow at 11:00, 3:00 and 7:00.”
“I thought our first-half offense was very poor," said Green. "I really got on the team at half time and I thought in the second half we came out and the team seemed to respond a little better and execute the offense. Manny had an incredible three point shot for us and Harris being fouled in the last second and canning those free throws was incredible for us.”
The Knights are back in action on Thursday, Jan. 25 when they host Quinnipiac at the Rothman Center at 7:00 p.m.
