BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team fell to LIU Brooklyn, 92-67, on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. With the loss the Knights extend a losing streak to 11 games and sit at 7-20 on the season, with a 2-12 Northeast Conference record. The Blackbirds join Robert Morris at the top of the conference standings with a 10-4 conference mark and a 15-11 overall record.

The Knights and Blackbirds fought for the lead during the first half, trading the lead nine times before LIU took control of the game early in the second half and coasting to the victory.

Junior Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) led FDU with a career-high 17 points on the night. Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) and Yves Jules (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie) also added double-digits for the Knights with 12 and 10 points, respectively. LIU's Jamal Olasewere paced all players with 18 points.

The teams traded points to open the contest and tied the game at eight five minutes into play. The Blackbirds took a brief 11-8 lead before a series of plays turned the momentum in FDU's favor and saw the Knights take a 15-12 lead with 12 minutes left in the opening half.

LIU tied the game again on a shot from beyond-the-arc by Booker Hucks before the teams traded baskets over the next five minutes of action. With six minutes remaining in the half, Seilund hit a three-point shot from the left side to put FDU ahead, 32-29. 

After tying the game for the ninth time, the Blackbirds constructed a five-point streak to take a 40-35 lead as the half entered its final minute. LIU took its largest lead in the opening 20 minutes, as time expired on a three-point shot by Gerrell Martin, putting the Knights down 43-35 at halftime.

LIU edged FDU from the floor with a 45.7 shooting percentage, compared to the Knights' 31.3 percent shooting from the field. The Knights held the advantage on the glass, 26-23, but turned the ball over seven times. The Blackbirds held control of long-range shots, 62.5 to 37.5 percent, but the Knights sank 12-of-13 free throws, while the Blackbirds converted just 6-of-16 shots from the line.

After trading possessions to open the second half, the Blackbirds produced a 7-1 run to take a double-digit lead. A series of FDU turnovers, combined with streak of six consecutive free throws, helped the Blackbirds maintain the lead. Midway through the second half, the Blackbirds increased the deficit and held a 68-49 advantage.

The Blackbirds outscored FDU, 22-16, over the final portion of the game to maintain the lead and take the victory, 92-67.

Overall, the Blackbirds shot 50.8 percent from the floor, while holding the Knights to a 34.4 shooting percentage. The Blackbirds also controlled the glass with a 47-40 advantage.

The game saw 50 personal fouls called with a combined 58 shots from the free-throw line. The Knights were more effective from the line with a 73.1 shooting percentage compared to LIUs 54.1 percent, but the Blackbirds saw more attempts and capitalized on 20-of-37 attempts, while FDU converted 19-of-26.

The Knights will travel to Western Pennsylvania next weekend to face Saint Francis University and Robert Morris on Thursday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 23.