BROOKVILLE, N.Y. - In a tough match-up at the Wellness Center in Brookville, LIU pulled away in the second half to defeat Chicago State (1-16, 1-1 NEC), 53-39. The game was defined by a stark contrast in shooting efficiency between the two halves, with LIU outscoring the Cougars 31-14 in the final 20 minutes. Jamal Fuller led LIU with a balanced effort, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds, while Brent Davis added 10 points off the bench, including two critical three-pointers in the second half.
Chicago State held a slim 25-22 lead at halftime, thanks to solid defensive efforts and contributions from Jalen Forrest and Gabe Spinelli. However, CSU's shooting faltered after the break, managing just 16.7% from the field and hitting only two of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Turnovers also proved costly, with LIU converting Chicago State's 15 mistakes into eight points.
The second half saw LIU take control, fueled by Fuller and Davis's timely scoring and Malachi Davis's defensive presence. LIU also dominated in the paint, scoring 30 points inside and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. The win improved LIU's record to 6-11, while Chicago State fell to 1-16 on the season.
