New York, N.Y. (January 25, 2014)—Mount St. Mary's fell to LIU Brooklyn, 75-71, in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Wellness Center in Brooklyn.  Freshman Byron Ashe scored a career-high 20 points for the Mount in the loss.

Sophomore Taylor Danaher added career highs of 13 points and five blocks with Sam Prescott chipping in 14 points in the loss.  Gregory Graves had nine points and 10 rebounds with Julian Norfleet adding eight points and five assists for the Mount.

Glenn Feidenga paced LIU Brooklyn with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Jason Brickman added 14 points and 12 assists. 

LIU shot 50.0 percent from the floor in the game while holding a 44-to-26 advantage on points in the paint.  The Mountaineers shot just 37.9 percent (25-of-66) from the field, and were 10-for-32 (.313) from three-point range.

LIU (7-12, 2-4 NEC) used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to take a double-digit advantage.  Ashe drilled a three-pointer with 15:10 left in the game to pull the Mountaineers within three points, 47-44.  The Blackbirds countered by scoring the next nine points on a run that was capped by a D.J. Griggs three-pointer and a Feidenga putback that gave LIU its biggest lead of the game, 56-44.

The Mountaineers (7-12, 3-3 NEC) fought back, whittling the deficit to 64-61 with just over five minutes left.  Danaher scored in the paint with 5:27 remaining, and Julian Norfleet scored on a floater in the lane on the next possession to make it a three-point game. 

Brickman, however, stopped the Mount's run by scoring the next six points, four on free throws and two on a long jumper, to give LIU a 70-61 lead.  From there, LIU was able to close out the victory.

In the opening half, LIU jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the opening six minutes.  The Mountaineers answered with a 10-to-2 spurt to take a 14-12 advantage.  Ashe started the run with a pair of three-pointers, while Graves added a pair of free throws and Danaher a bucket to put the Mount ahead.

The Mount held a 22-20 lead after Ashe hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.  The Blackbirds responded with a 7-0 run to take a five-point lead.    From there, LIU was able to maintain the advantage to go to the locker room with a 35-30 lead.

Ashe led the Mount with 12 first-half points while Prescott and Whack added five each. The Mountaineers struggled on the offensive end, hitting just 9-of-32 (.281) in the half.  LIU shot 14-of-28 (.500) in the half while holding a 23-16 lead on the boards.  Feidenga led the Blackbirds with nine points and seven rebounds in the half.

The Mount returns home to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, January 30, for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Knott Arena.  The Mountaineers lost to FDU, 85-79, in the NEC opener earlier this season.