Men's Basketball Falls to Penn State in Consolation Game of Arizona State Hoops Classic

(boxscore)

12/29/04 -- Long Island dropped a 80-56 decision to Penn State in the consolation game of the Arizona State Holiday Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Sophomore James Williams led the Blackbirds (4-6) with 14 points. Freshmen Kellen Allen and Randy Jones added 10 points each.

The Blackbirds led on three occasions in the first four minutes of play. A jumper from Allen gave LIU a 7-5 advantage. The Lions ran off a 12-0 spurt to take a 17-7 lead following a fast break lay-up from Marlon Smith.

LIU countered with a 9-2 sput, highlighted by three 3-pointeres to pull to 19-16 at the 11:29 mark of the half. Penn State erupted on a 21-5 run over the next nine plus minutes to lead 40-21 at the break. Smith accounted for more than 50 percent of the Lions' scoring in the first half, netting 21 of his game-high 33 points.

A triple from Williams at the 15:00 mark of the second half pulled the Blackbirds to 48-33 but they would get no closer. LIU shot 18-of-60 from the field (.300) and 10-of-30 from behind the arc (.333) in the game.