HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team fell to Mount St. Mary's, 103-82, on Saturday, March 2 at Stratis Arena. With the loss, the Knights complete the 2012-13 campaign with a record of 7-24 on the year and a 2-16 mark in Northeast Conference action, while the Mount improves to 16-13 on the year, with an 11-7 conference record.

The Knights took the lead early on and shot 50 percent from the floor but were outshot from three-point range by the Mountaineers. The Mount sank 13 shots from beyond-the-arc and went 19-for-29 from the free-throw line to seal the win in the final contest of the NEC regular season.

FDU saw four double-digit scorers in the season finale, with senior Melquan Bolding (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Bishop Stepinac) leading the way with 19 points on the day. Freshman Xavier Harris (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution) scored a career-high 15 points, while senior Kinu Rochford (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) and freshman Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) added 14 and 13 points, respectively. 

The Knights opened the game with a quick 9-1 lead, powered by seniors Trevor Charles (Brooklyn, N.Y./William E. Grady), Bolding Rochford. The Knights maintained an advantage by shooting 78 percent from the field over the first five minutes of the game and holding the Mount to just 3-of-13 from the field.

The Mount cut its scoring draught and used a strong full-court press to stop the Knights on four consecutive possessions. Midway through the half, MSM took a 19-17 lead on a long range three-pointer.

Powered by strong three-point shooting, the Mount extended its lead to double-digits with less than four minutes to play in the half. The Knights continued to fight but could not stifle MSM's shots from three-point range and fourd themselves down at halftime, 50-40.

The Knights led the Mountaineers with a 48.4 shooting percentage in the first half, while holding MSM to 37.5 percent.  The Mount held the advantage in three-point shooting, as they shot 34.8 percent from beind the arc.

Both teams started the second half with strong shooting. The Mount converted 6-of-8 shots from the field, while FDU made 4-of-5 over the first five minutes of action. 

Both teams continued to make over 50 percent of shots but the Mount continued to hold a sizeable advantage at 72-58 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. Both continued to trade points through the remainder of the contest, but the Knights could not cut the MSM advantage.

The Mount increased its lead to 24 points in the final minute and ultimately took the win, 103-82.

The Knights saw points from 10 different players, including the four double-digit scorers, as well as senior Yosua Cordero-Collado (Bologna, Italy/Bridgewater Raritan High School (N.J.)), who recorded the first two points of his career. Rochford and Charles led the Knights' rebounding effort with five each.

The Mount saw six double digit scorers, including Shivaughn Wiggins, who paced all players with 28 points.

As a unit, the Knights shot 50 percent from the field, while allowing MSM to convert 45.1 percent of shots. The Mount held the advantage from three-point range, 35.1 to 27.3 percent, from the free-throw line 81.3 to 65.5 percent and on the glass, 49-28.

“I am proud of this team for fighting to the end,” Head Coach Greg Vetrone said.  “And I am so proud of these seniors for what they've contributed to the team.”

The contest was the final game for Bolding, Charles, Robinson, Rochford and Cordeo-Collado.  Harris and six others will return to the roster next season.