NCAA Bracket 2012: How LIU Brooklyn Basketball Got To March Madness

Mar 7, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; LIU Brooklyn guard Micahel Culpo celebrates with the NEC championship trophy after the finals of the 2012 NEC tournament against Robert Morris at the Wellness Recreation and Athletic Center. LIU Brooklyn defeated Robert Morris 90-73 Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE

LIU Brooklyn had only two conference losses this season.

For the second straight year the Long Island University Brooklyn Blackbirds find themselves in the Big Dance after sealing the Northeast Conference title on Wednesday night, making it back-to-back NEC titles for the small Division I school.

C.J. Garner scored 21 points to lead the Blackbirds past Robert Morris 90-73, while Jason Brickman added 18 points and 11 assists as LIU shot 53 percent from the field, ensuring the Blackbirds' 25th victory of the season. They finished with a 25-8 record overall and went 16-2 in the NEC, with winning streaks of nine and eight games along the way.

They didn't play a lot of top-caliber talent, earning most of their wins over NEC and small conference schools. They finished the season third in scoring in all of the Division I with 81.9 points per game, which will certainly come in handy once they enter the tournament.

LIU Brooklyn earned the No. 16 seed in the West Region and will meet top-seeded Michigan State in the Second Round.

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