LIU Brooklyn Goes for Historic Third-Straight NEC Men's Basketball Title Tonight at The WRAC

After a difficult regular season, filled with injuries, losing streaks and suspensions, tonight the LIU Brooklyn men’s basketball team will arrive at exactly the same place as in their previous two campaigns: a Northeast Conference (NEC) Basketball Championship in the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center.

The Blackbirds will face Mount St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. for the 2013 NEC title, with the winner earning a berth in this year’s N.C.A.A. Men’s Basketball Tournament. If LIU wins, it will be an historic accomplishment, as no other NEC men’s basketball team has ever captured three straight titles.

Mount St. Mary’s stands in the way of what would be one of the greatest accomplishment in LIU basketball history. On Saturday The Mount (18-13) beat top-seeded Robert Morris 69-60 to earn a spot in the championship final. Riding a nine-game winning streak, Coach Jamion Christian’s squad is currently the NEC’s hottest team.

LIU (19-13) is also playing well at the right time, having won four straight and 14 of 17. Five seniors—C.J. Garner, Booker Hucks, Jamal Olasewere, Kenny Onyechi, Brandon Thompson— along with junior Jason Brickman and freshman E.J. Reed, rallied the Blackbirds after 2012 NEC Player of the Year Julian Boyd was lost to a season-ending injury. Third-seeded LIU advanced to the NEC final on the strength of a 94-82 road win last Saturday over second seed Wagner College.

Nelson Castillo, a close observer of LIU hoops since 1996, understands the significance of tonight’s game. “In a one-bid conference like the NEC, just winning a championship year after year is extremely hard,” said Castillo. “Considering rosters and coaching changes, winning back-to-back titles is extraordinary difficult.”

“Winning three in a row in the NEC is unheard of,” continued Castillo, who runs Blackbirds Hoops Journal, the definitive blog on LIU basketball. “LIU Brooklyn is the fourth NEC back-to-back champion to get an opportunity for the elusive three-peat.”

The other three teams that failed in their three-peat attempts didn’t play at the WRAC, where LIU has won 35 of its last 37 games. “If you were lucky enough to be in the WRAC for the last two NEC championship games,” said Castillo, “you know how loud and electric the atmosphere was. The crowd becomes a tremendous sixth man for the Blackbirds.”

An LIU three-peat would be “a major accomplishment, especially at this juncture of the NEC's development with so many competitive programs,” said Ron Ratner, NEC Associate Commissioner. “To sustain success over the course of three seasons is not easy. To sustain it in March as well is pretty remarkable.”

Castillo, who graduated from LIU in 1999, agrees that his alma mater is on the cusp of a significant milestone. “As an LIU alum and fan, this might be the sweetest of all three championships.” 

LIU was considered an early favorite to again win the NEC. Then four players were suspended early in the year, Boyd was lost to injury after eight games and the Blackbirds started conference play 0-3.

Olasewere, Garner and Reed stepped into the void left by Boyd’s absence, with Olasewere following his fallen teammate by capturing 2013 NEC Player of the Year honors.

“To see this team recover and then put themselves in the position where they are now, one game away from a third-straight NEC championship is incredible,” said Castillo. “I believe this team will be one of the most remembered LIU teams of all-time.”

Mount St. Mary’s is looking to make history of its own. Beating the champs on their home court would distinguish The Mount as the first NEC team to win three straight road games on the way to a NEC men’s basketball championship.

Freshman guard Shivaughn Wiggins—NEC Rookie of the Year—and Rashad Whack, a junior transfer from George Mason, anchor Mount St. Mary’s strong backcourt. The two combined for 39 points as The Mount beat the visiting Blackbirds 83-71 three weeks ago.

Coach Christian, like his LIU counterpart Jack Perri, is in his first year as head of Mount St. Mary’s basketball. Both coaches are finalist for the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year award, given annually to the nation’s top first-year coach, and are clearly among the conference’s rising stars.

Whatever the outcome, tonight’s NEC championship promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched squads. Continuing a season-long practice, LIU has made a select number of community tickets available on a first-come, first serve basis. For more information about tickets, contact Greg Fox, LIU Associate Director of Athletics, at gfox@liu.edu.

Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship: LIU Brooklyn vs. Mount St. Mary’s, Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m. The WRAC, 161 Ashland Place (between DeKalb Avenue and Willoughby Street). For information about tickets contact gfox@liu.edu or 718-488-1018.