Men's Basketball Loses High-Scoring Duel at Bridgeport, 100-91
Box Score BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 27, 2016) - The LIU Post men's basketball team shot a season-best 58.2 percent from the floor Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough in a 100-91 loss to East Coast Conference rival University of Bridgeport at Hubbell Gymnasium.
The Pioneers (13-6, 8-3 ECC) got out to a strong start in the first half. Despite allowing the game's opening basket, LIU Post answered with a 10-2 run over a span of 2:34 to take an early 10-4 lead at the 15:54 mark. Junior guard
Jared Hall (South Orange, N.J.), who scored a game-high 24 points in the contest, accounted for six of the points in the spurt, all off lay-ups.
However, Bridgeport (8-7, 7-2 ECC) took over from there and brought a nine-point advantage (41-32) into the locker room.
In the second half, the Pioneers put on a shooting display, making a sizzling 74.1 percent (20-of-27) of their field-goal attempts.
Down 47-33 over a minute into the period, LIU Post ate away at the deficit and eventually closed the gap to 61-57 on a
Barrington Alston (Wilmington, Del.) lay-up with 10:53 remaining.
Later in the half, Bridgeport managed to re-gain its double-digit lead (79-69), but an 11-0 response by the green and gold put the visitors back in front (80-79) in the last three-plus minutes of regulation. Senior guard
Devon McMillan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) opened the burst with a trey. Junior forward
Greg Dotson (Abington, Pa.) provided a go-ahead pair of free throws.
The Purple Knights pulled out the win though, as Bridgeport outscored LIU Post 11-2 over the next 2:08 to go up 90-82 with 43 seconds left.
McMillan was the Pioneers' second-leading scorer on the evening, pouring in 17 points. Dotson had 15 points, six rebounds and one block. Alston chipped in 10 points in 10 minutes off the bench. Senior forward
Michael Phillip (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added nine points and four rebounds.
Head Coach
Erik Smiles and his LIU Post squad continue their five-game road trip Saturday (Jan. 30) in Oakdale, N.Y. at ECC foe Dowling College. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.