- (boxscore)
12/2/06
-- Senior
James Williams (DeSoto, Texas) scored a game-high 21 points,
including
eight
in overtime, as Long Island University used a came from behind
to defeat New Hampshire, 70-62, in men’s basketball action
at the Wellness Center on Saturday afternoon.
Williams opened the overtime with a jumper that gave LIU the
lead for good. The Blackbirds’ defense held UNH to 0-for-5
shooting from the field in the extra period, with the only point
coming on a foul shot from Radar Onguetou with 48 seconds left.
Williams hit a pair of field goals and converted four foul shots,
while senior Aubin Scott (Hempstead, N.Y.) added a foul shot
to help the Blackbirds snap a two-game losing streak.
Junior Eugene Kotorbai (Richmond Hill, Ontario) was the only
other Long Island player in double-figures with 12 points. He
added 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
The Blackbirds shot just 36.1 percent from the floor for the
game, but managed to rally from a 10-point second half deficit.
Williams sparked the team with 18 points after halftime and sent
the game to overtime with a pair of foul shots with 12 seconds
left to tie it at 61-61. The Wildcats went ahead 45-35 at the
14:03 mark for their largest lead of the game, but could not
hold onto the lead despite shooting 52.0 percent from the floor
in the second half. The difference came at the foul line where
LIU converted 22-of-31 for the game, while UNH was 5-of-9.
Long Island led much of the opening period thanks to the contributions
of Kotorbai and freshman Jaytornah Wisseh (Brooklyn, N.Y.) off
the bench. Wisseh scored six of his
nine points in the opening period, while Kotorbai had seven,
including a tip-in with 58
seconds left to put LIU ahead 28-23. However, New Hampshire
rallied in the final minute scoring the final six points of the
half,
including a three-pointer from Dan McGeary as time expired
for a 29-28 lead at the intermission.
Blagoj Janev led the Wildcats with 18 points, while Jermaine
Anderson and Mike Christensen added 13 points apiece. Anderson
added seven assists, while Christensen had a team-high eight
rebounds.
The Blackbirds return to action on Thursday, Dec. 7, with their
Northeast Conference-opener at Monmouth at 7:00 p.m. in West
Long Branch, N.J.
.
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