Preview: Stonehill Skyhawks at Long Island Sharks

NEW YORK (Interstat) — A Northeast Conference rematch with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the Long Island Sharks host the Stonehill Skyhawks at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center.

The Sharks (14-8, 4-1 NEC), riding a four-game winning streak, will look to solidify their position near the top of the conference standings. They enter with momentum after a dominant 80-59 road victory at Central Connecticut last Saturday, powered by a career-high 29 points from guard Mason Porter-Brown. Long Island’s balanced attack also features Jamal Fuller, who added 23 points and six assists in that win.

Stonehill (8-14, 3-2), however, arrives with confidence of its own, having won three of its last four games. The Skyhawks are coming off a 65-54 win at Le Moyne, where forward Davante Hackett recorded a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Hackett has been a force, averaging a double-double over his last three contests.

This matchup is a quick turnaround from a Jan. 23 meeting in Easton, Massachusetts, which Long Island narrowly won 66-63. In that game, the Sharks overcame a 10-point second-half deficit, holding Stonehill scoreless for the final 3:34 to secure the victory. Hackett was limited to eight points for the Skyhawks in that loss, while Porter-Brown played just 11 minutes for Long Island.

The game pits Stonehill’s recent resilience against Long Island’s consistent scoring prowess. The Sharks have averaged 77.3 points during their win streak, while Stonehill has grinded out lower-scoring victories with defense, holding opponents to 59.3 points per game in their last three wins.

A key battle will be in the paint, where Hackett’s rebounding will be tested by Long Island’s interior presence, including Shadrak Lasu, who posted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in the last outing.

With both teams jockeying for position in a tight NEC race, Saturday’s contest offers Stonehill a chance for a crucial road split and Long Island an opportunity to avenge one of its few conference losses and continue its surge.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST.