STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team was outlasted by Wagner, 68-55, on Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Spiro Sports Center.  With the loss, the Knights fall to 6-8 on the year with a 1-1 record in Northeast Conference action.  The Seahawks advance to 8-5, and maintain a 2-0 conference mark. 

Senior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) paced the Knights and recorded his seventh double-double in 10 games with 16 points and 16 rebounds.  Wagner's Ken Ortiz helped the Seahawks to the win with 22 points, including 12 of Wagner's final 13 points. 

The Knights shot a season low 29.6 percent from the field, while allowing Wagner to connect on 43.5 percent of attempts.

Wagner's Mario Moody began the game with six straight points before a jump shot from Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) cut the Seahawk run. Moody added two more points followed by an Ortiz three-pointer to give the Seahawks a 13-4 advantage six minutes into the game. 

The Seahawks followed with a 7-1 streak to take a 20-7 lead midway through the half.

The Knights used a combination of baskets from Jones, Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) and Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) to cut the deficit to eight points with less than five minutes on the clock but a seven-point push put Wagner in front, 31-19, at the break.

Wagner outshot FDU, 46.2 percent to 25.0 percent in the first 20 minutes of play. The Seahawks also held the advantage on the glass, 21-15. 

The Seahawks maintained a double-digit lead through the majority of the second half. With 13 minutes to play, seniors Robinson and Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) combined for five quick points to bring the score to 42-33, but it was the closest the Knights would be.

A 9-2 run gave Wagner its greatest lead of the game, 52-35, with eight minutes on the clock.

The Knights continued to battle and forced two Wagner turnovers in the closing minutes, but the Seahawks continued to generate scoring opportunities. Wagner connected on 5-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes of play to seal the win, 68-55.

Rochford's double-double led the Knights, while Robinson added 15 points for FDU. Ortiz recorded a game-high 22 points for Wagner, while Moody had his first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds on the day.

As a unit, the Knights went 17-for-58 from the field and 17-for-24 from the free-throw line (70.8 percent). The Seahawks converted 23-of-50 field goals and 19-of-26 free throws (73.1 percent) and outrebounded FDU, 45-32.

After playing 12-of-14 games on the road, the Knights will return to Stratis Arena on Thursday, Jan. 10, when they host Robert Morris.  Tipoff in FDU's conference home opener is scheduled for 7 p.m.