The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team was able to overcome an 18-point Monmouth lead to defeat the visiting Hawks, 64-63, on a buzzer shot from Manny Ubilla (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ). The Knights improve to 12-10 overall with a 7-4 mark in the NEC, while Monmouth falls to 10-13, including a 5-6 conference record.
To open the game, Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a 9-5 lead, but Monmouth surged ahead with seven-straight for a 12-9 lead five minutes into the game.
Andre Harris (Detroit, MI/Robichaud) (Detroit, MI) tied the game up again on a free throw, 16-16, and Cameron Tyler (Jamaica, NY/Notre Dame Prep) (Jamaica, NY) had back-to-back jumpers to give the Knights the 20-16 edge.
The Hawks staged a 16-0 run to take a 32-20 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame. Entering the half, the Hawks held a 34-24 lead. Michael Peeples (Detroit, MI/Benedictine) (Detroit, MI) and Harris each had nine points for the Knights, while Jhamar Youngblood and Whitney Coleman led the Hawks with seven points apiece.
FDU shot 50 percent in the final 20 minutes of the game to out-score the Hawks, 40-29, to stage the comeback and ultimately take the game.
A lay-up by Tyler two minutes into the second half made it an eight-point game, 36-28, but the Hawks scored 10-straight to push the advantage back into double-digits.
Eric Hazard (Long Branch, NJ) connected on one of his four second-half treys to make it 50-38, but Coleman answered with a three of his own to push it back up to a 15-point game. Over the next four minutes, Fairleigh Dickinson out-scored Monmouth, 12-4. The run was capped when Tyler pulled up and swished a three to make it a seven-point game.
Tyler took matters into his own hands, netting a lay-up at the four minute mark, which was followed by a key three from Bernell Murray (Stillwater, OK) to cut the Monmouth lead down to 58-55 with 3:32 on the clock.
Murray grabbed a defensive steal and then dished it to Tyler to make it a one-point game.
John Bunch converted a three-point play with 2:26 on the clock, but a tip-in from Harris kept the game within reach, 61-59.
Hazard stole the ball and then followed it up with a clutch shot from the top of the arc to tie up the game, 62-62, with 44.3 seconds remaining.
The Knights' defense was able to run the shot clock down to seven, but a foul was called, putting Marques Alston on the line. Alston netted the front end and Sean Baptiste (North Brunswick, NJ/St. Josephs of Metuchen) grabbed the rebound off the second shot to give FDU its' last chance at a win.
Tyler sent a diagonal pass across the court to Ubilla, who netted a buzz-beating floater and gave the Knights a thrilling 64-63 win.
Monmouth scored 46 points in the paint while holding the Knights to 26, but FDU converted 25 points off of turnovers and allowed only nine.
Tyler led the Knights with 19 points while Harris chipped in his ninth double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hazard added 14 second-half points, shooting 4-of-6 from long-range.
Bunch was one of four players to score in double-digits for Monmouth, as he led the Hawks with 14 points. Alston added 13, Coleman chipped in 12 and Youngblood had 10.
FDU gave up the ball only seven times, but forced 18 turnovers from MU. The Knights also had 10 steals to Monmouth's three.
“We've come back from being down before, so I just kept my fingers crossed and said a little prayer,” said Head Coach Tom Green. “We've had so many close games it's incredible. I told the guys before the game it's going to be that kind of game, and we know how to win those. When I looked up at the scoreboard halfway through I didn't know if it would be that kind of game.”
“We changed the defense at the six or seven minute mark and that kind of kept Monmouth on their toes. Our defense created turnovers, which created energy and momentum.”
The Knights are back in action on Friday, Feb. 9, when they host St. Francis NY in a doubleheader that will be televised live on FSN-NY. The women's team will play the Terriers at 5:00 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 7:30 p.m.
