Spike Lee in the house at NEC game in Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) With the Knicks out of town, Spike Lee is attending the Northeast Conference championship game at Long Island University in Brooklyn.

Lee, who grew up in Brooklyn, strolled into the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center about 30 minutes before tip-off between the Blackbirds and Robert Morris.

Wearing a Knicks baseball cap, a red hooded sweatshirt and black vest, the diminutive director took a seat in the front row behind the basket, right next to three students who spelled out LIU on their painted bare chests.

Lee lives in Manhattan and is a Madison Square Garden regular at courtside for Knicks games. His production company is located in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, walking distance from LIU.

Updated March 7, 2012