LIU Sharks vs Lafayette Leopards Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our LIU vs Lafayette NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Easton.

LIU vs Lafayette Prediction

Looking to win big? The Sharks and Leopards face off at 4:30 ET on NEC. The Leopards are hosting the game at Kirby Sports Center in Easton, PA. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Lafayette as the -5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 142.5 points.

LIU vs. Lafayette Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: LIU Sharks at Lafayette Leopards
Where: Easton at Kirby Sports Center
Date: Friday, November 29th
Betting Odds LAFAY -5, LIUB +161 | LAFAY -200 O/U 142.5

Sharks Preview: Can LIU Pull Off a Road Win?

LIU Sharks Recent Game/Games

The Sharks fell to Winthrop 87-65 on Monday, November 25th, in an away game. Entering as +13 point underdogs, LIU not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

LIU trailed 44-31 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 34 points while allowing 43. The game’s total points of 152 narrowly missed the O/U line of 152.5.

Sharks Offense Breakdown

LIU's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 40.6% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc, hitting only 3 of 15 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.8%, and they connected on just 47.6% of their free throws, going 10 for 21 from the line.

Kelton Talford led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 70% from the field. K.J. Doucet added 17 points, hitting 6 of 10 shots, including 1 of 2 from three-point range. The Sharks grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and finished with just 9 assists as a team.

Sharks Team Defense

LIU struggled defensively, giving up 87 points on 50% shooting from the field. Their interior defense was a particular issue, as they allowed 61% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team hitting 25 of 41 shots inside the arc.

From beyond the three-point line, LIU's defense held the opposition to 30% shooting, with 6 made threes on 20 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 32 times, where they converted 19 free throws. LIU also gave up 13 offensive rebounds.

Leopards Preview: Can Lafayette Secure a Home Victory?

Lafayette Leopards Recent Game/Games

Lafayette fell to Rhode Island 86-72 on Wednesday, November 20th. The Leopards were +15.5 point underdogs going into the game, but managed to cover the spread.

Lafayette trailed 40-27 at halftime but showed improvement in the 2nd half, scoring 45 points while allowing 46. The game’s total points of 158 went over the pre-game O/U line of 147.

Leopards Offense Breakdown

Lafayette's offense put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 36.7% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.3%, and they connected on 77.8% of their free throws, going 21-for-27 from the line.

Sebastian Thomas led the way with 23 points and 9 assists, hitting 2 of 5 from three-point range. David Green added 17 points and 14 rebounds, despite missing all 3 of his three-point attempts.

Leopards Team Defense

Defensively, the Leopards struggled, giving up 86 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 51% from the field. Inside the arc, they were particularly vulnerable, with the other team hitting 69% of their two-point attempts.

From three-point range, Lafayette held their opponents to 20% shooting, but they sent them to the free-throw line 40 times, where they converted 60%. The Leopards also gave up 10 offensive rebounds.

Sharks vs Leopards Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

LIU has a 2-3 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 68 points per game while allowing 79. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
Across their last five home contests, Lafayette has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 0-5, while averaging 63 points per game.
As the betting underdog, the Sharks have an ATS mark of just 6-3-1 in their last ten games. LIU posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
Looking back on the team's last five games as the favorite, the Leopards have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.