Freshman guard and Brooklyn native Eric Acker has LIU off to its best conference start in 12 years. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics
Eric Acker learned a thing or two about winning at Brooklyn’s Eagle Academy for Young Men, where he led the school to its first-ever borough and city championships last March.
The freshman guard and East New York native didn’t have to travel far to bring his winning ways to college with him.
Following his second Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honor, Acker has the rebuilding Long Island University men’s basketball team off to its best start in league play in a dozen seasons.
The 6-foot-2 standout had his most impressive Division I performance last Saturday, scoring 21 of his career-best 23 points in the first half of the Sharks’ 73-68 triumph over Stonehill in front of 340 fans at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Massachusetts.
Acker went 9-of-20 from the floor, knocked down a quartet of 3-pointers, grabbed four rebounds, handed out a pair of assists and picked up a steal in 34 scintillating minutes.
Tai Strickland, son of head coach Rod Strickland, added 20 points and Ahmed Essahaty finished with 12 for the Sharks (3-11, 2-0 NEC), who only managed one conference win and three in 30 games overall last season.
Acker, who was also named an NEC Prime Performer this week along with Tai Strickland, averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds during LIU’s two wins last week, including a 69-67 victory over Wagner at Downtown’s Steinberg Wellness Center.
Tai Strickland, a graduate student guard, averaged 21.5 points during the Sharks’ conference-opening winning streak, giving the Sharks a potent 1-2 punch in the backcourt as they prepare to visit Sacred Heart on Saturday in Fairfield, Connecticut.
The LIU ladies were also looking to get off to a 2-0 start in NEC action Monday in Staten Island, but suffered a 75-66 loss in front of 487 fans at the Spiro Sports Center.
Senior guard Ashley Austin scored 15…
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