BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Dec. 17, 2015) - On Thursday night, the LIU Post men's basketball team capped off a four-game homestand with a 72-60 victory against Franklin Pierce University in non-conference action at the Pratt Recreation Center.

The Pioneers (8-2), who have now won four straight, excelled down low, outscoring the Ravens (5-4) in the paint, 42-14. They also held a 20-5 edge on second-chance point opportunities and owned an overwhelming 53-33 advantage in rebounds.

Holding a slight 59-57 cushion with less than five minutes to go in regulation, LIU Post ripped off a 11-0 run in a span of 3:47 to expand their lead to 70-57, putting the game away for good. Senior forward Michael Phillip (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and junior guard Jared Hall (South Orange, N.J.) each knocked down a pair of key free throws in the burst. Phillip also put down a two-handed dunk on the fast break, off a pass from Hall.

In addition, LIU Post kept Franklin Pierce off the board for almost the final 6:52. With seven seconds remaining, junior guard Matt Banton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) buried a three-pointer to end the drought.

Before the Pioneers' game-closing run, neither squad led by more than seven points in the contest. In the opening 20 minutes of play, LIU Post trailed 24-17 with under 12 minutes left, until a 10-3 spurt by the hosts pulled the game even at 27-all.

Senior forward Nick Kahn (Westlake Village, Calif.) and sophomore forward Hunter Powell (Tustin, Mich.) netted back-to-back lay-ups to start the rally. Powell later added a put-back lay-in to tie the score.

Hall poured in a game-high 16 points in the win. He grabbed seven rebounds and dished out two assists, as well. Phillip recorded his first double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) in a Pioneer uniform. Junior forward Barrington Alston (Wilmington, Del.) provided 10 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench. Burns amassed eight points, six rebounds and three assists.

Powell had seven points, three rebounds and one block. Red-shirt sophomore guard Aary Bibens (Bennington, Vt.) chipped in six points, six boards and one steal. Senior guard Devon McMillan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pulled down nine rebounds and swiped three steals in the effort.

Head Coach Erik Smiles and his LIU Post squad now return to East Coast Conference play, as they square off with St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday (Dec. 19) at 3:30 p.m. in Sparkill.