Box Score

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team was defeated by Wagner, 75-68, on Thursday night in a pivotal Northeast Conference matchup at the Spiro Sports Center. With the victory, the Seahawks improve to 11-11 (5-4 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 8-15 (4-5 NEC) overall.

FDU was up early at 13-12, but Wagner would take the lead for good at the 10:53 mark of the opening half with a three-pointer from Latif Rivers, which triggered a 19-8 spurt over the next 6:47 that allowed Wagner to take a 31-21 advantage.

The Knights fought back to cut the deficit to six until the Seahawks netted the final five points of the half to go into the locker room leading 36-25.

Both sides only shot 34 percent over the opening 20 minutes but Wagner went to the free throw line 20 times, making 15, while FDU sunk 1-of-2.

The Knights got as close as seven at 49-42 on a three-point play by sophomore Xavier Harris (Philadelphia, Pa./Constitution) at the 10:51 mark of the second half, before the Seahawks answered with a 13-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 62-46, with 6:35 remaining.

Each side would shoot 41 percent from the field, but the home team made 25-of-35 from the line, compared to the Burgundy and Blue's 12-of-15.

"Wagner was very, very good tonight," Head Coach Greg Herenda said. "They guarded us really well, and we could just not keep them off the foul line. It is very hard to win on the road in any league, and I am finding that the NEC is no exception."

Senior Sidney Sanders Jr. (Charleston, S.C./Burke) scored 16 of his game-high 24 points after halftime on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 from the free throw line while dishing out a team-best five assists and recording a game-high three steals.

"Once again, Sid left his heart out on the floor, but we never had any consistent scoring around the basket to go along with his terrific play," Herenda said.

Freshman Malachi Nix (Evanston, Ill./Niles North) came off the bench to add a career-high 11 points (5-of-6 FG), collect four rebounds and register two steals. Harris pulled down a team-best six boards.

Rivers led Wagner with 20 points (10-for-10 FT), with Jay Harris and Dwaun Anderson chipping in 15 and 12 points, respectively. Kenneth Ortiz added 11 points, a game-high eight assists and three steals, while Orlando Parker grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

FDU will have a very quick turnaround when it travels to New Britain, Conn. to face Central Connecticut State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The NEC contest will be nationally televised on Fox College Sports, MSG and Comcast SportsNet New England. The Knights defeated the Blue Devils, 86-73, at Stratis Arena on Jan. 25.