Long Island advances to NEC final, earns NCAA Tournament bid

Field Level Media|published: Sun 8th March, 24:52 2026

Dec 16, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Long Island Sharks head coach Rod Strickland coaches during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Long Island's 64-56 victory over Wagner on Saturday in New York not only advanced the Sharks to the Northeast Conference tournament finals, but they also secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Top seed LIU (23-10) will play third-seeded Mercyhurst (17-16) on Tuesday in the tournament final in Brooklyn. N.Y. Mercyhurst is not eligible for the NCAA Tournament until the 2028-29 season because it is in the four-year transition period reclassifying from Division II to Division I.

Senior guard Greg Gordon, who formerly played at UAB (2024-25) and Iona (2023-24), led the Sharks with 19 points and a game-high four steals. Shadrak Lasu added a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds as well as three blocks, while Jamal Fuller contributed 17 points, nine boards and five blocks.

Rod Strickland, who played guard in the NBA for 17 years, is in his fourth season coaching the Sharks, who have won four straight and 12 of 14.

Long Island held the largest lead of eight points in the game while scoring 14 points off 13 turnovers by Wagner (14-17).

The seventh-seeded Seahawks were paced by Nick Jones' game-high 27 points, and he added six rebounds along with six turnovers. Binael Basil nearly posted a double-double with nine points and nine boards.

The teams were tied at 23 at the half, with LIU having a 41-33 advantage in the second half.

--Field Level Media

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