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HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team will travel to Western Pennsylvania Thursday, Feb. 21 to take on the Red Flash of Saint Francis University. Tipoff at DeGol Arena is slated for 7 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
The Knights defeated the Red Flash, 79-69, in overtime at Stratis Arena on Jan. 12 but have not earned a win since.
After battling for the lead through the entire game, FDU's Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) tied the game at 64 on a three-point shot with 17.5 seconds left to play. The Knights then outscored Saint Francis, 15-5, in overtime to earn the win.
FDU saw double-digit scoring from four players in the mid-January matchup. Senior Lonnie Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) led the offensive charge with 17 points, while Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) added 15 points. Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) and Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) aided the Knights with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Rochford recorded his eighth double-double in 12 games with 12 rebounds in just 19 minutes played.
The Knights are 7-20 on the year, with a 2-12 Northeast Conference mark, and averages 65.8 points per game, while shooting 43.5 percent from the field. The Knights maintain a three-point shooting percentage of 36.6 percent, and bring down an average of 30.9 rebounds per game, while forcing 12 turnovers and registering 5.7 steals per game.
Rochford leads the Knights this year with 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and has nine double-doubles in 27 games, while Bolding adds 13.9 points per game.
Saint Francis University is 3-22 on the year after beginning the season 0-11 in nonconference action. The Red Flash is 3-11 in conference play after defeating Central Connecticut State, 67-60, in their NEC opener before, while also picking up wins over Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart.
As a unit, the Red Flash average 61.0 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 72.7 points per contest. SFU is shooting 40.9 percent from the floor, with a 32.9 three-point shooting percentage. SFU also pulls down an average of 30.0 rebounds per game and forces 12.1 turnovers.
Umar Shannon leads Saint Francis with 11.7 points per game, while three others add over 7.5 points per contest. Sophomore Earl Brown leads the team on the glass with 8.1 rebounds per contest, while also adding 10.5 points.
The Red Flash was selected to fnish last in the 2012-13 NEC preseason coaches' poll and currently sits one game ahead of FDU in the standings.
The Knights and Red Flash have met 79 times since 1955, with the Knights holding a 41-38 advantage in the all-time series.The Knights had lost four in a row to SFU before earning the win this season.
FDU will continue the Western Pennsylvania swing with a road contest at Robert Morris on Saturday, Feb. 23. Tipoff at the Sewell Center in Moon Township, :Pa. is slated for 7 p.m.
