EMMITSBURG, Md. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team earned a 72-65 victory over Mount St. Mary's in its Northeast Conference opener on Thursday, Jan. 3.  With the win at Knott Arena, the Knights improve to 6-7 on the year and begin conference play with a 1-0 record.  The Mount falls to 5-7 on the season and starts NEC competition 0-1.

The senior trio of Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac), Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) and Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) led the Knights, each with double-digit points.  Bolding paced the Knights' offensive effort with 19 points, while Rochford recorded his sixth double-double in nine games with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  Robinson added 10 points in the win.

The Knights converted on 55 percent of their shots, while holding The Mount to 42 percent from the field.  Every FDU player to see playing time against Mount St. Mary's recorded at least two points.

Bolding opened the game with a layup and made free throw before connecting on three consecutive three-pointers to give the Knights a 12-8 lead three minutes into the contest.

An 11-0 FDU run, capped off by three-point play by Robinson, increased the Knights' advantage to 26-12 midway through the half. 

The Knights continued to increase their edge with strong field goal shooting and went into the break leading, 39-22. 

FDU connected on a season-high 69.6 percent of shots from the field in the first half, while holding The Mount to 44.4 percent.  The Knights also shut out MSM from beyond-the-arc, holding them to no made three-pointers on 10 attempts. 

Mount St. Mary's chipped away at the deficit in the second half by outscoring the Knights, 17-8, in the first seven minutes.  With a 47-39 advantage, FDU scored eight-consecutive points to reclaim a 16-point cushion.  The Mount quickly retaliated by holding the Knights scoreless for five-full minutes and producing an eight-point run of its own. 

With less than five minutes to play, the Knights held a 59-47 edge but, The Mount was not finished fighting.  MSM connected on seven baskets in the final four minutes, including three shots from three-point range to come within five points as the clock wound down. 

Sophomore Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) sank 8-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to hold onto the Knights' advantage and lead them to the 72-65 victory. 

FDU limited the Mount's signature three-point shooting to just 4-of-28 for a percentage of 14.3.

“I am happy with the way we defended the three-point shot,” said Head Coach Greg Vetrone.  “That was the game plan against this team.  Our efficiency in the first five minutes set us up nicely, and stopping the three really helped us tonight.”

The Mount held the advantage on the glass with 34 rebounds compared to the Knights' 33.

The win at Knott Arena snapped Mount St. Mary's undefeated record at home this season and also breaks a seven-game win streak The Mount held over FDU in the all-time series.

The Knights will travel to Staten Island, N.Y. on Saturday, Jan. 5 to face the Seahawks of Wagner.  Tip off at the Spiro Sports Center is slated for 4 p.m.