STEM and basketball collide at the Long Island Nets' Education Day

Students from Uniondale’s Walnut Street, California Avenue, and Grand Avenue elementary schools attended the Long Island Nets Education Day at the Nassau Coliseum.

Held on March 20, this year's event welcomed students from 60 different elementary and middle schools all over Long Island for a day filled with educational activities and thrilling basketball action. The goal of the day was to “infuse science, technology, math and engineering education with basketball,” according to the Nets, and featured an exhilarating game that kept fans and students on the edges of their seats against the Indiana Mad Ants.

Education Day holds a special place in the Long Island Nets' calendar, serving as a fun and educational platform to offer local students a unique and engaging learning experience. The event commenced with interactive STEM workshops, including a workshop where students delved into the science behind basketball and sports performance. This hands-on exploration ignited curiosity and excitement among students, showcasing the everpresent fascination and intersection of sports and science.

The highlight of Education Day was the game between the Long Island Nets and the Indiana Mad Ants that came down to the wire. During the game, students participated in a variety of hands-on learning activities, including completing an educational work packet with lessons that relate back to basketball, created and distributed by the Nets.

But who could work on packets with a game that comes down to the buzzer at the end?

The game came to a thrilling end with a close victory for the Long Island Nets, concluding with a final score of 110-106, adding a high-energy game, where six Nets players scored in double digits, to the students overall excitement of the day.

Noah Clowney posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds to go along with one assist in 38 minutes. Kyler Edwards tallied 18 points, three rebounds, five assists and one steal in 35 minutes. Kaiser Gates added 15 points, one rebound, one assist and three steals in 33 minutes. Davion Warren recorded 14 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 24 minutes. Nate Pierre-Louis added 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block in 26 minutes and Jacob Gilyard also posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists as well as one rebound and three steals in 33 minutes.

In addition to the educational activities and basketball game that made the day special, the Long Island Nets also achieved a remarkable milestone by breaking their attendance record during Education Day. A total of 6,472 fans were in the stands during the game, surpassing the previous record of 6,248 set in the 2019 season.

The Long Island Nets say they remain dedicated to supporting education and youth development, using events like Education Day to inspire and empower the next generation.

Students from Uniondale and the other participating schools had an unforgettable experience, combining valuable educational opportunities with the excitement of live basketball action.