Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team dropped a pivotal Northeast Conference contest on Saturday night to Saint Francis University, 89-82, in a nationally-televised game during Winter Homecoming festivities at Stratis Arena. With the victory, the Red Flash improve to 8-17 (6-6 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 8-17 (4-7 NEC) overall.

FDU trailed by as many as 12 with 1:26 remaining in the contest before using a 10-2 run over a 56-second stretch to trim the SFU lead to 84-80 with 30 seconds left. But the Knights could not get any closer.

The visitors shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the field, including 57.7 percent in the second half, while FDU finished at 39.7 percent (27-of-68) and 9-of-23 from long distance.

"We are just having problems stopping people on the defensive side of the floor," Head Coach Greg Herenda said. "Give Saint Francis the credit; they were consistent all night long, and we played in spurts and that was the difference."

Senior Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) tallied his fifth 30-point game of the season after netting a game-high 31 points (22 in the second half) to go along with a game-high six assists. Junior Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) tied a career high with 21 points, with 16 coming after halftime, and connected on 5-of-9 from behind the arc.

The Knights held an early 9-7 lead nearly five minutes into the contest, but SFU would take the lead for good with 12 unanswered points to take a 19-9 lead at the 11:06 mark of the first half.

FDU fought back to cut the Red Flash's advantage to 26-22 with 5:16 to go before halftime, but the visitors would stretch their lead back out to 10 at 38-28 heading into the locker room.

SFU shot 50 percent in the first half and outscored the Knights, 11-1, in points off turnovers in constructing its double-digit advantage.

FDU started the second half on a 10-3 run, as Jones' three-pointer put the Knights down 41-38 with 16:04 remaining.

With FDU now down six at 52-46, the Red Flash scored 11 straight to extend their lead to 63-46 with 8:04 to go. SFU would lead by double figures until the Knights made their furious rally at the end.

FDU only turned the ball over seven times, with just two coming in the second half, and outscored the Red Flash in the second half, 13-4, in points off turnovers. But SFU did a lot of its damage in the paint to hold a 14-point edge and also outscored the Knights by seven in the fast break.

Six players scored in double figures for the Red Flash, and Earl Brown led the way with 22 points. Ronnie Drinnon collected a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Greg Brown, Dom Major Jr. and Stephon Whyatt each scored 12. Malik Harmon rounded out the scoring with 11 points.

"Our guys played their hearts out to cut it to four, but we cannot get down 17 in our building," Herenda said.

FDU, who now finds itself in the final NEC Tournament spot, will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 20 when it heads to Smithfield, R.I. to face second-place Bryant for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Bulldogs defeated the Knights earlier this season at Stratis Arena, 95-68, back on Jan. 18.