Game Notes | Live Video | Live Stats
HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team will begin Northeast Conference competition on Thursday, Jan. 3 at Mount St. Mary's. The Knights will face off with The Mount at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, Md., with tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
The Knights most recently defeated the Lancers of Longwood University, 79-71, on New Year's Eve. Backed by a monster game from senior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison), the Knights moved to 5-7 on the year. It was the first time FDU had recorded five wins before the change in the calendar year since the 2006-07 season.
As a team, the Knights are averaging 67.5 points and 29.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three-point range. FDU has allowed its opponents to shoot 49.9 percent from the field and pull down 35.2 rebounds per game.
Rochford currently leads the Knights with 18.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The senior set a new career high last weekend with 30 points at VCU and 32 points at Longwood. He also grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds against VCU and dished out a career-high four assists.
Seniors Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) and Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) have added 15.2 and 13.0 points per game, respectively, so far this season.
The Mount is 5-6 on the year, with a 58-55 win over UMBC in its most recent outing. The team is averaging 60.7 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 71.1. Collectively, the Mount is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc and forces 18 turnovers per game with a high-intensity defense.
Rashad Whack leads the squad with 12.4 points per game. Kristijan Krajina adds 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest, while capitalizing on 68.3 percent of his shots.
FDU and MSM have met 45 times since 1956, with the Knights holding a 24-21 advantage in the all-time series. The Mount has taken the win in each of the last seven contests, by an average of 14 points per game.
The Mount was selected to finish ninth in the preseason coaches' poll this season. During the 2011-12 season, MSM finished 6-12 in conference action last season and has since replaced their head coach with Mount alum Jamion Christan.
Following Thursday's contest, the Knights will take on the Seahawks of Wagner. Tipoff on Staten Island is scheduled for 4 p.m. Both Northeast Conference matchups can be seen live and free of charge at NECFrontRow.com.
