HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team continues action at Lehigh University on Saturday night. Tipoff at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa. is slated for 7 p.m.
After falling in their first three games of the season, the Knights responded with three consecutive wins, two at the South Padre Island Invitational in South Padre Island, Texas and last time out at in-state rival, Saint Peter's. FDU came from behind in all three of its wins over Delaware State (63-62), Prairie View A&M (84-70) and Saint Peter's (66-61).
In the win at Saint Peter's, the score was tight throughout the contest and showed five lead changes and five ties, while neither team possessed greater than a seven-point lead. With the score tied at 51, the Knights outscored the Peacocks, 15-10, over the final seven minutes to earn the road victory. FDU went 11-for-18 from the free-throw line over that stretch, including 7-for-12 in the final minute to seal the triumph.
The 3-3 start is the first time the Knights have maintained a .500 record since the 2010-11 season, when the team began the season with a 3-3 mark.
The team currently has five players averaging double-digit points. Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison), Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac), Sekou Harris (Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield High School), Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) and Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) lead the Knights offensively. Rochford paces the team with 15.7 points per contest, while Bolding and Harris have added 14.8 points per game and 13.5 points per game, respectively, in two games. Robinson has put up 11.5 points per game, while Seilund added 10.7 points per game before an injury sidelined him in South Padre.
Saturday is the second time the Knights have ever challenged the Mountain Hawks. In 2011, FDU fell 72-61 at the Rothman Center early in the season. Rochford led the Knights with 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, while Lehigh's CJ McCollum led all scorers with 23 points.
The Mountain Hawks are 5-2 on the year with wins over Northeast Conference opponents Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac.
Under sixth-year Head Coach Dr. Brett Reed, the Mountain Hawks have averaged 77.4 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 73.3 points. Lehigh has shot .456 from the field through seven contests.
The 2012 Patriot League Champions were voted the preseason favorite this season by the league's head coaches. Last year, they finished with a record of 27-8, including an NCAA tournament win over second-seeded Duke.
McCollum leads the team as one of the nation's top scorers. He averages 26.3 points per game and was named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year.
Three others, Gabe Knutson, Mackey McKnight and Holden Greiner also average double-digit points for the Mountain Hawks. Knutson leads the team on the boards with 6.0 rebounds per contest.
The Lehigh matchup concludes the Knights' season-opening road trip. After seven consecutive away games, FDU will host Lafayette on Friday, Dec. 9. Tipoff at Stratis Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
