Blackbirds Drop Close One, 62-61, at Mount St. Mary's

(boxscore)

2/13/06 -- Long Island University saw two field goal attempts in the final six seconds fall off the mark as Mount St. Mary's posted a 62-61 victory in Northeast Conference men's basketball action on Monday evening at Knott Arena in Emmittsburg, Md.

Sophomore Randy Jones (West Palm Beach, Fla.) pulled up for a six-footer with 5.8 seconds remaining but saw his attempt bounce off the front rim. Freshman Donovin McLendon (Miami, Fla.) grabbed the rebound and found Jones on the left wing. His attempt in the waning seconds fell short as the Mount held on for the win.

The Mountaineers pushed ahead 59-55 following a 3-pointer from Mychal Kearse with 2:08 showing. The Blackbirds countered as Jones drained a 28-footer to pull the visitors to a point, 59-58, with 1:30 on the clock. Kearse hit the second of two free throws on the next possession, but again Jones had a response as he drilled a trey to take the lead with 46.4 seconds.

Mount's try for a triple was off the mark but Kearse came up with the long rebound and found teammate Kiel Butler under the basket for the go-ahead field goal with 20.9 seconds showing.

Junior guard James Williams (DeSoto, Texas) paced the Blackbirds (8-14, 5-8 NEC) with 13 points, all in the first half. He fouled out with 5:00 remaining in the game. Senior Aubin Scott added 10 points.

The Blackbirds pushed to 28-21 in the first half following a steal and subsequent fast-break lay-up from senior Aubin Scott (Hempstead, N.Y.) with 4:07 on the clock. The Mountaineers countered with a 9-0 spurt capped by a Gus Durr floater in the lane to pull to a 30-28 lead.

Mount scored 14 of its 32 first half points from the free throw line, including 11 straight. The score was knotted at 32-32 at intermission.

Long Island continues its NEC schedule on Thursday, Feb. 16 at home against Robert Morris at 7:00 p.m. The game is part of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader, as the women take on St. Francis (NY) at 5:00 p.m.