Long Island University Holds Off Saint Francis 91-89 Behind Balanced Attack

The Long Island University Sharks traveled to DeGol Arena to face off against the Saint Francis Red Flash, and despite being predicted to win by 14.9 points, they found themselves in a dogfight, ultimately emerging with a 91-89 victory. The Sharks were led by a balanced attack, with 3 players scoring 18 points or more, including Malachi Davis, who scored 20 points on 7-12 shooting. The Red Flash, on the other hand, were paced by Skylar Wicks, who scored 25 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Saint Francis has now lost 5 straight games, averaging 77.2 points per game over that stretch, while allowing 84.8 points per game. In their last 5 games, Long Island University has been stout on defense, allowing just 57.2 points per game, and outscoring their opponents by an average of 7.4 points.

The game was back and forth throughout, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Sharks jumped out to a 43-38 lead at halftime, thanks in large part to 12 points from Davis and 10 points from Jomo Goings. However, the Red Flash came out strong in the second half, scoring 51 points and cutting the deficit to just 2 points with 1:15 remaining. Victor Payne scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half, and Chris Moncrief added 8 points off the bench. Despite the strong effort from the Red Flash, the Sharks were able to hold on, thanks to some clutch free throw shooting from Greg Gordon, who scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Over their last 5 games, Long Island University has shot 47.1% from the field, while holding their opponents to just 40.5% shooting.

The star performers in this game were numerous, but Davis and Wicks stood out above the rest. Davis hit several big shots late, including a 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining that gave the Sharks a 5-point lead. Wicks, on the other hand, was unstoppable at times, scoring 15 points in the second half and grabbing 4 rebounds. However, it was the supporting cast that made the difference for the Sharks, as Goings and Gordon both scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. For the Red Flash, Payne and Moncrief provided a spark off the bench, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Sharks. The Sharks' bench outscored the Red Flash's bench 20-15, and they also outrebounded them 34-29.

The CHD Scout prediction of a 14.9-point Long Island University victory seemed unlikely at times, given the back-and-forth nature of the game. However, the Sharks' ability to shut down the Red Flash's offense in the first half, holding them to just 38 points on 34.5% shooting, was a key factor in their victory. The Red Flash's recent trend of struggling on defense, allowing 84.8 points per game over their last 5, also played a role in the Sharks' win. The Sharks have been strong on defense over their last 5 games, allowing just 57.2 points per game, and outscoring their opponents by an average of 7.4 points.

The CHD Scout prediction was correct, but the margin of victory was much closer than expected. The reason for this was the Red Flash's ability to score 51 points in the second half, including 15 points from Payne and 8 points from Moncrief. The Sharks' defense, which had been stout all game, suddenly became vulnerable, allowing the Red Flash to shoot 51.4% from the field in the second half. However, the Sharks' offense was able to keep pace, scoring 48 points in the second half, including 10 points from Gordon and 8 points from Goings. The Red Flash's defense has been a problem all season, and it ultimately cost them the game.

The win for Long Island University is a big one, as it keeps them in the hunt for a tournament bid. The Sharks have now won 4 of their last 5 games, and their NET ranking of 192 is a reflection of their strong play over the last few weeks. The loss for Saint Francis, on the other hand, is a tough one, as it drops them to 6-21 on the season. The Red Flash have now lost 5 straight games, and their NET ranking of 353 is a reflection of their struggles this season. The Red Flash have been outscored by an average of 7.6 points per game over their last 5, and they have allowed their opponents to shoot 46.2% from the field.

The win for Long Island University is a significant one, as it keeps them in the hunt for a tournament bid. The Sharks' NET ranking of 192 is a good one, and their quad 4 win over Saint Francis will look good on their resume. The loss for Saint Francis, on the other hand, is a tough one, as it drops them to 6-21 on the season. The Red Flash's NET ranking of 353 is a reflection of their struggles this season, and it's unlikely that they will be able to turn things around and make a run at the tournament. The Sharks' win over the Red Flash is their 10th quad 4 win of the season, and it improves their record to 19-9. The Red Flash, on the other hand, have just 2 quad 4 wins, and their record is now 6-21.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Sharks jumped out to a 43-38 lead at halftime, thanks in large part to 12 points from Davis and 10 points from Goings. However, the Red Flash came out strong in the second half, scoring 51 points and cutting the deficit to just 2 points with 1:15 remaining. The Sharks were able to hold on, thanks to some clutch free throw shooting from Gordon, who scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Red Flash's recent trend of struggling on defense, allowing 84.8 points per game over their last 5, ultimately cost them the game. The Sharks have been strong on defense over their last 5 games, allowing just 57.2 points per game, and outscoring their opponents by an average of 7.4 points.

In the end, the Long Island University Sharks' balanced attack and strong defense were too much for the Saint Francis Red Flash to handle. The Sharks' win keeps them in the hunt for a tournament bid, and their NET ranking of 192 is a good one. The Red Flash, on the other hand, are likely to miss out on the tournament, and their NET ranking of 353 is a reflection of their struggles this season. The Sharks' 19-9 record is a reflection of their strong play over the last few weeks, and they want to continue their winning ways in their next game. The Red Flash, on the other hand, want to turn things around and try to make a run at the tournament. The Sharks have won 4 of their last 5 games, and they have outscored their opponents by an average of 7.4 points per game over that stretch.