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HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team (7-12, 3-2 NEC) will look for its first 4-2 Northeast Conference start in seven seasons when it welcomes Central Connecticut (5-13, 1-4 NEC) to Stratis Arena on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on NEC Front Row.

Last Time Out
The Knights rallied from six points down in the final minute to stun St. Francis Brooklyn, 86-85, on Thursday night at Stratis Arena in NEC action. The victory matched last year's win total of seven and surpassed last season's conference win total of two.

Trailing 85-79 with 1:23 to go, junior Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) drilled a three-pointer with exactly one minute to go. The Knights then forced a turnover, and senior Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) cut the deficit to 85-84 with a layup.

After the Terriers turned the ball over again with 41 ticks remaining, FDU had a chance to take the lead. However, Sanders Jr.'s layup rimmed in and out. He then fouled St. Francis Brooklyn's Sheldon Hagigal with nine seconds left.

Hagigal missed both free throws, and freshman Malachi Nix (Evanston, Ill./Niles North) skied for the rebound and traveled cross court before being fouled in front of the Knights' bench with 3.4 seconds to go. He made the first free throw; the Terriers called a timeout; Nix then swished the second to cap the 7-0 game-ending run, as St. Francis Brooklyn was unable to attempt a final shot.

FDU had six players score in double-figures, and Sanders Jr. led the way with 20 points, a team-best nine assists, a game high and career-best four steals and only one turnover. Despite struggling from the field (4-of-20), the co-captain drained 12-of-13 free throws.

Senior Mathias Seilund (Dragoer, Denmark/Falkonergaardens Gymnasium) added 13 points (5-of-7 FG, 3-of-3 from long distance), grabbed four rebounds and swatted away a game high and a career-best three blocked shots before fouling out, while Jones also netted 13 points (5-of-8 FG, 3-of-6 from long distance) and added three steals.

Graduate student Gillette chipped in 12 points (5-of-6 FG) and a team-high six rebounds before also fouling out, and sophomore Kyle Pearson (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) came off the bench to also score a season-high 12 points (5-of-8 FG) and produce two steals. Freshman Matt MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) finished with 10 points (4-of-7 FG, 2-of-3 from long distance) and three assists.

Central Connecticut
2013-14 Season: 5-13 (1-4 NEC)
When: Saturday, Jan. 25 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (Stratis Arena)
Series History: FDU leads 17-16
Last Meeting: Feb. 2, 2013 - CCSU 80 FDU 71
What You Need To Know: The Blue Devils have been without the services of All-NEC performer Kyle Vinales, who has missed the last several games with an injury. In 12 contests, he was averaging 17.4 points per game. CCSU started league play out 0-4 but shocked the conference world with an 87-83 victory at Wagner on Thursday night for its first NEC win. Freshman Matt Mobley (6.1 ppg) poured in a career-high 22 points and grabbed a career-best seven rebounds, while junior Malcolm McMillian (11.1 ppg) added 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. Junior Faronte Drakeford, who is averaging 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, netted 16 points, and sophomore Brandon Peel (5.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and a career-high six blocks. As a team, the Blue Devils collected 12 blocks.

Up Next
The Knights will start a four-game conference road swing on Thursday, Jan. 30 when they travel to Emmitsburg, Md. to face Mount St. Mary's for a 7 p.m. contest. FDU defeated the Mount at Stratis Arena, 85-79, in its NEC opener on Jan. 9.