Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team's comeback effort fell short after falling to Norfolk State, 70-62, Monday evening at The RAC in the consolation bracket of the NIT Season Tip-Off. With the victory, the Spartans improve to 4-2 on the season, while the Knights fall to 1-6 overall.

Poor shooting from three-point range, coupled with a 54 percent shooting performance from Norfolk State over the first 20 minutes, placed FDU in a large deficit.

"We just had a very cold night from the field and from the three-point line, especially in the first half," Head Coach Greg Herenda said.

Leading 9-6 early on, the Spartans used an 18-2 run to take a 27-8 lead with 7:49 to go before halftime.

Trailing by 18, FDU used a quick 9-2 spurt to trim the deficit to 31-20 on a bucket from freshman Matt MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) at the 3:26 mark. But Norfolk State would close the half netting eight of the next 10 point to go into the break leading 39-22.

The Knights came out of halftime scoring the first seven points, with senior Sidney Sanders Jr.'s one-hander cutting the lead 10, before the Spartans responded with seven unanswered of their own to lead 46-29 at the 14:33 mark.

FDU eventually go back to within 10 at 61-51 on a three-pointer from junior Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) with 3:51 to go, and cut it to seven at 65-58 on Jones' three free throws with 90 seconds left, but could not get any closer.

Sanders led three players in double figures with 19 points to go along with team highs of three assists and three steals. Senior Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while MacDonald chipped in 10.

The Knights shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from the field, including only 4-of-21 from three-point range. They held Norfolk State to 34.6 percent in the second half, 44.4 percent (24-of-54) for the game, and 3-of-12 from distance. Both sides turned the ball over 13 times, and the Spartans held a 40-34 advantage on the glass.

"Obviously, the outcome was not what we wanted it to be, but we did so many good things on the defensive end of the court," Herenda said. "We held a very potent Norfolk State team to 18 points below its season average. If our defense continues to be this solid, our offense will eventually follow, and I am very confident that will happen."

Malcolm Hawkins led Norfolk State with 16 points, with Anell Alexis adding 14. Brandon Goode netted 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds and five blocks, while Pendaris Williams chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

FDU will return to Rutgers on Tuesday to face the Scarlet Knights for a 7:30 p.m. contest at The RAC.