LONGWOOD, Va. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team earned a 79-71 win over the Lancers of Longwood University on Monday, Dec. 31.  With the win, the Knights improve to 5-7 on the year, while the Lancers fall to 3-11. 

Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) set a career-high in points for the second consecutive game. The senior put up 32 points to pace all players and lead FDU to the win. Rochford also brought down 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) poured in a season-high 22 points, while adding nine boards for FDU. Michael Kessens led Longwood with 17 points.

It was Rochford's coming out that enabled the Knights to earn the win.  Rochford converted 12-of-13 shots, while making 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Coupled with his 30-point performance at VCU, Rochford has made 24 of his last 27 shot attempts.

“It was a great team effort,” said Head Coach Greg Vetrone. “We found Kinu in great scoring situations, he has been playing fantastic.  When you take that, plus Melquan's 22 points and nine rebounds; Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach)'s 10 points; Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) came off the bench, had six rebounds in 16 minutes, it all adds up to just a great team victory.”

Kessens started the charge for Longwood, scoring eight of the team's first 10 points, which enabled the Lancers to take a 10-6 lead five minutes into the game.

The Lancers maintained a four-point lead until the 12-minute mark when the Knights scored 10 consecutive points to take a 21-17 lead.

Longwood reclaimed a 31-29 advantage with five minute remaining in the half on a put-back by Jeylani Dublin. The teams traded baskets before a layup by Bolding, followed by five consecutive made free throws over the final two minutes gave the Knights a 39-35 lead at the break.

After one half of competition, Bolding paced all players with 18 points. Rochford added 12 for FDU, while also grabbing eight rebounds.

As a team, the Knights shot 60.9 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the line, with 10-of-12 free throws made. FDU outrebounded Longwood, 20-14, during the first half.

Rochford opened the second half by single-handedly outscoring Longwood, 12-5, to hand the Knights a 50-40 advantage with 14 minutes left to play.

Baskets by Bolding, Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) and Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) set the Knights up for a 15-point lead with 10 minutes to go in the game.

A brief 9-2 streak cut the Longwood deficit to single-digits, 61-52, with five minutes to play. The Knights maintained the lead with steady free-throw shooting in the final minutes and held on for the 79-71 victory.

Overall, the Knights shot a season-high 61.4 percent from the field, while holding the Lancers to 41.6 percent on attempted shots. FDU pulled down 34 rebounds, compared to Longwood's 27, and dished out 17 assists, led by a season-high six from Sanders.

The fifth win for FDU surpasses the 2011-12 total and ties the number of wins produced by the 2010-11 team. No FDU team has recorded five wins before the New Year since the 2006-07 season.

 “We have to keep improving on our defense,” Vetrone said.  “We are looking forward to the NEC season starting on Thursday.”

The Knights will begin Northeast Conference action on Thursday, Jan. 3 at Mount St. Mary's.  Tipoff in Emmittsburg Md. is slated for 7 p.m.