Arizona dominates LIU in March Madness opener to end best season in 14 years
SAN DIEGO — When it was over, Rod Strickland was of course disappointed.
Any competitor wants to win every game. But the LIU coach was also happy — happy that his players got to experience the NCAA Tournament and happy they helped him get his program back to this stage.
“I told the guys after the game, we should be proud,” Strickland said after the 16th-seeded Sharks fell to No. 1 Arizona 92-58 at Viejas Arena. “I took this job four years ago with three wins, and now we’re at 24. … If you go from the beginning of the year, just our fan base and how many people walked in that gym to those last couple of games, you could just see the turnaround. I’m excited for the future. But, honestly, I’m more proud of these guys.”
Long Island University Sharks forward Caleb Johnson gets fouled by Arizona Wildcats forward Sidi Gueye as he drives to the basket in the second half on March 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
LIU’s best season in 14 years came to a close Friday afternoon. The gritty Sharks and their “Fins Up” celebration were no match for the powerhouse Big 12 champions. Strickland’s team fell behind big early and couldn’t mount much of a rally against one of the premier teams in the country.
It was 12-2 only 3:01 in, and it was clear there would be no repeat of the scare Siena put into No. 1 Duke a day earlier. Arizona didn’t take LIU (24-11) lightly. The two-loss Wildcats poured it on, leading by 24 points at halftime.
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat guarded by Long Island University Sharks forward Mason Porter-Brown in the second half. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Sharks had no answers for Arizona (33-2) and its two projected first-round one-and-done NBA draft picks, Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. The duo combined for 33 points on 11-for-22 shooting and 12 rebounds. Wildcats 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas controlled the paint to the tune of nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Arizona crushed LIU on the glass 52-31 and outscored them in the paint by 24. The Wildcats also shot 50 percent from 3-point range, their supposed weakness.
“We played in the NEC, and we played a style. And we came in here and we tried to play that style, but we were playing against the top team in the country in length,” Strickland, the former Knicks point guard and Bronx native, said. “I think we started out with nerves and made some questionable decisions, and it kind of steamrolled [on us].
Long Island University Sharks head coach Rod Strickland, talking to Long Island University Sharks guard Greg Gordon on the sidelines. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“But I’m proud that in the second half that we came out and we fought because I spoke to [TNT analyst] Stan Van Gundy yesterday, and the first thing he said was, ‘You guys play hard.’ And that’s what I wanted to see. I just wanted to make sure we played hard and we went out the right way.”
Mason Porter-Brown led LIU with 15 points and Greg Gordon added 12. Malachi Davis and Sharks leading scorer Jamal Fuller struggled, shooting a combined 5-for-21 from the field. There was one memorable moment in the final minute, when walk-on sophomore Eddie Munyak hit a 3-pointer off the glass. It was just his second appearance all year. The strong LIU fan contingent went berserk.
“He really deserved that,” Porter-Brown said.
Long Island University Sharks forward Mason Porter-Brown going up for a dunk in the second half. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Despite the lopsided loss, it was a memorable year for the Sharks, who returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years. They won the NEC regular-season and postseason titles, taking a major step forward in Strickland’s fourth year as coach.
“I’ll remember the moments with my teammates, my coaches, all the tough times and all the times that I remembered that I wanted to quit. And we just never caved in,” Gordon said. “I’ll remember everything. This is an unforgettable season for me. It means the world to me.”