Box Score

The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team dropped its 16^th consecutive contest Saturday afternoon as they fell at home to Saint Francis PA, 69-63, in a Northeast Conference tilt at Stratis Arena in Hackensack, NJ.  With the victory, the Red Flash improve to 5-14 (4-4 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-18 (0-8 NEC) overall.

Junior Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) came off the bench to score 15 points and dished out a team-high four assists to lead the Knights.  Senior Briahn Smith (Detroit, MI/Madison) added 14 points including tying a career high with four three's, and sophomore Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points (all in the second half), grab five rebounds and record a game-high three steals.

The Red Flash grabbed the advantage for good with a 14-12 lead at the 12:41 mark of the first half to force the Knights to play catch up the rest of the game.  SFPA was able to take a 40-28 halftime lead thanks to 62.5 percent (15-of-24) shooting in the first half including 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from three-point range. 

FDU only shot 37.7 percent (10-of-27) but made 5-of-12 from long range. 

The game featured four ties within the first seven minutes of the game.  With the game tied at 12, the Red Flash used a 9-1 run to take a 21-13 lead with 10:06 to go before halftime.

The Knights fought back to cut the deficit to three on three different occasions as a Smith jumper cut the lead to 29-26 with 3:48 left in the first half.

Over the final 3:28 of the first half, SFPA outscored the Knights, 11-2, to go into the break up 40-28.

With 10:47 to go in the game, the Red Flash took a 52-39 lead.  However, FDU reeled off eight straight points as Seilund's second-chance jumper cut the deficit to 52-47 with 8:10 to go.

SFPA then extended its lead back to nine three more times before a Seilund layup cut the lead to five once again at 60-55 with 4:14 remaining in the contest.

The visitors were once again able to take control and took a 66-56 lead with 45 seconds left before a deep three-pointer by Robinson cut the lead back to five at 68-63 with 13 seconds.  However, FDU ran out of time as the Red Flash escaped with the 69-63 victory.

The Knights shot 41.4 percent in the second half to finish the game shooting 39.3 percent (22-of-56).  They also knocked down a season-high nine three-pointers (9-of-22; 40.9 percent).

SFPA cooled off in the second half as they only shot 33.3 percent (8-of-24) to finish shooting 47.9 percent (23-of-48).  They missed all three of their three-point attempts in the second half to finish 6-of-11 from long range.

The Red Flash knocked down 73.9 percent (17-of-23) of their free throw attempts including 13-of-16 over the final 20 minutes.  The Knights shot 71.4 percent (10-of-14).

Both teams turned the ball over 12 times, but SFPA outscored FDU, 15-8, off turnovers.  The Red Flash edged the Knights on the glass by one, 32-31.

“We have to stop digging ourselves into holes in the first half,” Head Coach Greg Vetrone said.  “If we played like we did in the second half, we may have had a shot to win the game.  Give SFPA credit, they made more plays than us.”

Scott Eatherton led the Red Flash with game highs of 25 points and 11 rebounds.  Anthony Ervin added 15 points and five rebounds, while Jon Taylor chipped in 11 points.

The Knights will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 26 when they travel to Smithfield, RI to take on Bryant in Northeast Conference action.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.