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. The winner earns an NCAA tournament bid.

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

When the crowd figured out it was Lee, there was a brief “Spike Lee” chant and he posed for a couple of photos with fans and shook a few hands. But for the most part, Lee’s presence didn’t cause much of a stir.

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.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.