Box Score STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Sophomore
Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) hit a three-pointer from the corner with 1.3 seconds remaining to give the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team an 82-79 overtime victory against Wagner. The victory, paired with a loss by Mount St. Mary's gives the Knights sole possession of first place in the Northeast Conference with an 8-3 record.
The Knights trailed by six points with just 1:46 left in overtime, but freshman
Darnell Edge (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) buried a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 79-76. After a defensive stop, Potts connected on a three to tie the game at 79-79.
On the ensuing Wagner possession sophomore
Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) took a charge to get FDU its final offensive possession. After a pair of missed shots and offensive rebounds, Townes passed outside to Potts for the go-ahead three.
Potts finished with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman
Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick ) scored 17 points and grabbed 10 boards to also post a double-double.
Redshirt junior
Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) made a spin move to the basket and sank a layup with 26 seconds remaining to tie the game at 71-71 and force overtime.
Sophomores
Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara), Townes and Edge each scored 12 points to give the Knights five players in double-digits.
The Knights (12-10, 8-3 NEC) led 30-26 at the half with Potts scoring 12 points to lead the team.
He did most of his scoring in the opening minutes with 12 of his 14 points coming prior to the under-12 media timeout.
Wagner made a strong comeback attempt in the second half and actually led by seven points with 4:30 left to play. However, the Knights chipped away with five different players scoring over the final four and a half minutes.
"I've been saying this for a long time - I just love this group and how they conduct themselves," Herenda said after the game. "Tonight epitomized that feeling. To beat a very, very good team in Wagner on their floor says it all."
"It is not fair to single any one player out, but Earl Potts not only made the huge shot, but 22 (points) and 11 (rebounds) speaks for itself. I really credit our first half defense and again our freshmen coming up huge off the bench. That game is an instant classic – that's all I can say."
Potts was 8-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Knights shot just 38.6% (27-of-70) from the field, but were 10-of-21 (47.6%) from beyond the arc and connected at a 75% (18-of-24) clip at the free throw line.
FDU also held a 47-44 advantage on the glass, including 19 offensive rebounds.
Jiggetts had a team-high four assists in 37 minutes of action.
The Knights return to action on Saturday, February 6 at St. Francis Brooklyn. The Knights and Terriers are scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip at the Pope Physical Education Center.
