The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Robert Morris in Northeast Conference action Thursday night, 74-50, at Stratis Arena in Hackensack. With the victory, the Colonials improve to 13-13 (9-6 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 4-22 (2-13 NEC) overall. FDU has now lost a season-high 10 games in a row and 13 consecutive NEC contests.
Senior Kamil Svrdlik (Prerov, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Zlin) (Prerov, Czech Republic) led the Knights with 12 points and eight rebounds. Senior John Galvin (Weston, CT/Weston) (Weston, CT) and freshman Ayotunde Oyeniyi (Lagos, Nigeria/The Rock School (FL)) (Lagos, Nigeria) also contributed eight boards.
After the Colonials jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, freshman Tyler Reynolds (Eugene, OR/Sheldon)' (Eugene, OR) jumper triggered nine unanswered points as Oyeniyi's three-point play capped the run, giving the Knights a 9-6 lead.
Robert Morris was able to regain the lead and stretched its advantage to three points before freshman Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium)'s (Drageor, Denmark) three-pointer from the left corner dead locked the score at 14 with 8:23 remaining in the opening 20 minutes.
The Colonials then scored the next six points in the contest and outscored the Knights, 14-4, the rest of the half to go into the break up 28-14.
Despite holding the Colonials to 34.6 percent shooting from the floor and winning the battle on the glass, 21-14, the Knights found themselves down 10 because of 11 turnovers, while the visitors only turned the ball over twice. Robert Morris was able to score 15 points off the Knights' miscues and held FDU to 28.6 percent from the floor.
In the second half, the Colonials caught fire in the second half as they shot 56.7 percent, including 5-of-6 from behind-the-arc.
Senior Terence Grier (Cranford, NJ/St. Thomas More Prep)'s (Cranford, NJ) trey ball cut the lead to 30-21 early in the second half, but Robert Morris then outscored the Knights, 39-18, to take its largest lead of the game at that point, 61-39, with 6:23 remaining in the contest. The Colonials were in cruise control the rest of the way for the 74-50 victory.
The Knights shot better in the second half and finished the game shooting 34.7 percent (17-of-49). The Colonials finished the game shooting 46.4 percent (26-of-56).
The two biggest differences in the game were turnovers and points in the paint. Robert Morris only turned the ball over four times, while forcing 17 miscues by the Knights. The Colonials also dominated the scoring in the paint, 34-18. However the Knights did edge Robert Morris on the boards, 36-35.
The Colonials' Lijah Thompson led all scorers with 16 points, while Karon Abraham added 12.
The Knights return to action on Saturday, Feb. 19, when they host Saint Francis PA, in their final home game of the season. FDU will honor its four seniors with a pregame ceremony before tip-off, which is scheduled for 7:00 p.m at Stratis Area in Hackensack.
