LORETTO, Pa. – DeGol Arena has seen its share of classic games so far this season, and Saturday's senior day celebration against LIU Brooklyn would certainly fit into that category. The Flash trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half but rallied to force overtime. In the extra frame, the Blackbirds pulled out the win, 79-74.
 
The game was leaning heavily in LIU Brooklyn's favor after Landon Atterberry made a three pointer with 11:23 to play to give the Blackbirds a 51-40 lead. Ronnie Drinnon (Jamestown, Ohio/Greenview) answered that possession with an offensive rebound and a three-point play. That spurred a Flash run. Dominique Major (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) followed with a three pointer and Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) and Greg Brown (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) had baskets to cut the lead to 51-50 over the course of nearly five minutes.
 
The Flash (14-11, 8-6) couldn't get over the hump to take the lead at that point, but the teams traded baskets as LIU's lead never extended past four points for the rest of the half. Major hit a big three from the left corner with 2:27 remaining to cut the lead back to a point, 62-61. He also hit another huge three pointer less than two minutes later. That shot did put the Flash ahead, 66-64, with just 49 seconds to play.
 
The Blackbirds (12-13, 8-6) wasted no time in responding. Martin Hermannsson hit a three from the right wing on the next possession, again giving LIU a one-point lead, 67-66. After the Flash missed a pair of free throws on its next possession, Drinnon grabbed the offensive board and was also fouled. After missing the first, he drained the second to tie the game at 67-67 with just eight seconds left. After LIU's Elvar Fridriksson slipped and was called for traveling, Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King)'s prayer wasn't answered as time expired.
 
In overtime, the Flash took the early advantage on four Harmon points. But the Blackbirds came back with a 7-0 run and a five-point lead. Greg Brown (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding)'s three pointer with 38 seconds left cut the deficit back to 76-74, but three Blackbird foul shots were all that remained to be scored. Both teams were sub-60 percent from the free throw line for the game, but LIU made up for it by making 11-of-17 three pointers.
 
Saint Francis had another double-digit run in the game, coming early in the first half. LIU Brooklyn raced out to an 11-4 lead, but the Flash responded with 11 consecutive points – including six from Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) to take a 15-11 lead.
 
Earl Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) finished with another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. That's his fifth straight double-double. Brown was 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Drinnon has his second straight, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Greg Brown (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) (12) and Major (11) also finished with double figures. Harmon tied his career with seven assists.
 
The Flash returns to action Thursday night at Central Connecticut. Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.