Dec. 18, 2008
Final Stats
Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -
Long Island University Shuts Down Bethune-Cookman, 71-46
Brooklyn, N.Y. - The Long Island University's defense shut down Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night at the LIU Wellness Center and claimed a decisive 71-46 home win. The Blackbirds turned 17 Wildcat turnovers into 22 points and limited B-CU to 32.1 percent shooting on the night to win their second straight game. The Wildcats (4-6) completed their two-game New York area road trip 0-2 (B-CU lost at St. John's Sunday 77-59) and will next be in action at Jacksonville, Monday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. start.
The LIU Blackbirds (4-5) raced out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back after converting back-to-back tip-ins. The Wildcats got within three points twice, including 14-11 at the 9:55 mark following a jumper from 6-9 center Tyrel Adams, but that was as close as they could get.
LIU outscored B-CU, 17-7, to close out the half and Wisseh's deep three-pointer just before the buzzer made it 31-18 at the intermission. Despite shooting just 26.5 percent in the opening period, LIU managed to build a comfortable lead by forcing 12 turnovers, while committing just three of its own. B-CU shot only 26.5% in the first 20 minutes (7-27).
The second half opened with a 9-4 run by Long Island, bookended by layups to build the lead to 40-22. Bethune-Cookman scored the next four points, but a LIU three-pointer stopped the threat and kick-started a 13-4 run which ended with two more treys to make it 53-30 with 9:38 to play. The Blackbirds cruised from there as the Wildcats never got closer than 19 points from there and LIU recorded its biggest win since defeating Hartford, 84-62, on Dec. 1, 2007.
LIU's Jaytornah Wisseh led all scorers and added six assists without a turnover. Ron Manigault added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Tyrone Mattison came of the bench to add 11 points in just 18 minutes.
LIU shot 55.6 percent in the second half to finish the game at 39.3 percent overall, but the story of the night was its defensive play. The Blackbirds allowed only Alexander Starling was 0-4 from the field and Kene Anusionwu was 0-4 field goals and the Wildcats were just 1-of-6 from three-point range on the night. 'Cats starters were only 9-40 from the field with Eliott's 5-10 FG shooting the top mark.
