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Fairleigh Dickinson vs. LIU-Brooklyn: Basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Ryan Shepard

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 15: Head coach Greg Herenda of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts in the second half against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 15: Head coach Greg Herenda of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts in the second half against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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After upsetting the third-seeded St. Francis Red Flash, the Knights will travel to Brooklyn for an NEC semifinal showdown.

Game Info

Date: Saturday, March 3rd at 12:00 p.m.

Network: WatchESPN and NEC Front Row

Location: Steinberg Wellness Center (Brooklyn, NY)

How have the Knights been playing as of late?

In a crazy quarterfinal round of the NEC Tournament, the Knights were able to take down St. Francis after losing both regular season matchups to the Red Flash by an average of eleven points. In a near perfect performance from sophomore Kaleb Bishop, the 6’8 forward went from averaging eight points and six rebounds to scoring 21 points, grabbing five rebounds and shooting 81% from the field. If Bishop plays anywhere near the level he did in the first round, LIU-Brooklyn will have a tough time taking down the sixth-seeded Knights.

How have the Blackbirds been playing as of late?

The Blackbirds are on a roll! Currently on a three-game winning streak, the Blackbirds blew out the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers by twenty-three at home. Heading into their third matchup with the Knights, the Blackbirds hope to take control of the season series. In their last matchup with the Knights, the Blackbirds won by five on the road, while scoring ninety for only the fourth time this season. If they can put up points like they did in their last matchup, the Blackbirds will find themselves in the NEC Championship.

Player to Watch

For much of the season, Mike Holloway Jr. has been a leader for the Knights, but on January 11th he was special. Putting up eighteen points and grabbing eleven boards against the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds, Holloway Jr. was the key to the Knights victory that night. If his fellow big man, Kaleb Bishop, can continue to play the way he did in the quarterfinal matchup and Holloway Jr. puts up the type of numbers he did the last go around against LIU-Brooklyn’s frontcourt, the Knights will head home with the win.

Matchup To Watch

While the majority of the attention in this game will be paid to the action in the frontcourt, the battle between LIU-Brooklyn’s Jashaun Agosto and Fairleigh Dickinson’s Deion Anderson will be pivotal. In the most recent matchup, FDU’s senior guard not only turned the ball over five times, but also fouled out.

Next: 2018 Northeast Conference Tournament preview

Meanwhile, the sophomore guard in the big apple gave his team seventeen points and six assists. Look for the senior to outduel the younger guard when it counts most.

Prediction: Blackbirds, 80 – Knights, 75

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