Fairleigh Dickinson University's Men's Basketball Moves to 4-1 in Northeast Conference

The Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) men’s basketball team earned a 71-59 victory over Saint Francis U on Thursday, Jan. 14 at DeGol Arena. The Knights (8-8, 4-1 NEC) scored 42 points in the first half and then held off the surging Red Flash (7-9, 3-2 NEC) in the second period.

FDU was led by 12 points each from sophomores Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding) and Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen). The Knights also received 11 points from sophomore Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara).

This start is the best for the Knights through five Northeast Conference games since the 2004-2005 team opened 4-1 before improving to 7-1. The 1997-98 team was also 4-1 through five games.

The Knights had their best defensive half of the season in terms of points allowed by limiting the Red Flash to 25 in the first half. The 59 total points allowed is also a season best mark for the Knights.

“Road conference wins are hard to explain and we really worked hard preparing for that one,” head coach Greg Herenda said after the game. “I just told my guys and my staff that we just beat a very good team in a very difficult building.”

“What I loved most was that Darian and Earl got into foul trouble and we extended the lead. Marques (Townes) got us off to an incredible start and Malik Miller (Troy, N.Y./Catholic Central )just does what he does.”

Leading 8-5 at the under 16 media timeout of the first half, the Knights came alive to outscore the Red Flash 25-9 over the ensuing nine minutes. FDU’s scoring slowed over the final seven minutes of the half, but the Knights managed to increase their lead to 24 points on a layup by redshirt junior Tyrone O’Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter’s Prep) with two minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the period.

Saint Francis University (SFU) closed the opening 20 minutes with a 10-3 run to make it a 42-25 game at the break.

Townes led the Knights in the first half with nine points. He was followed by Jiggetts and freshman Malik Miller (Troy, N.Y./Catholic Central), each with seven points. Miller came off the bench and scored his seven points within seven minutes of action.

The Knights shot 51.9% (17-of-33) from the field and hit five three-pointers in the period.

FDU also committed three first-half turnovers, while forcing 11 Red Flash turnovers.

Saint Francis changed the momentum after halftime and outscored FDU 34-29 in the second half, but the Knights held off the SFU surge for the victory.

FDU held a 24-18 advantage in points off the bench and a 24-18 edge in points off turnovers.

The Knights shot 49.1% (27-of-55) for the game and was 6-of-23 from beyond the arc and 11-of-16 from the free throw line.

The Red Flash shot 39.6% (21-of-53) from the field, 35.7% (5-of-14) and 60% (12-of-20) at the free-throw line.

The Knights led for the final 36:46 of the game after taking the lead on an early lead by Townes.

Redshirt junior Tyrone O’Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter’s Prep), sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) and freshman Darnell Edge (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) also had solid games for the offense.

Anderson led the Knights with six rebounds, while Edge chipped in a team high of four assists.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Robert Morris.

“Now we’re off to another really difficult building, but I like the team I’m bringing there,” Herenda added.