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HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team (7-8, 2-2 NEC) is hoping to stop a brief two-game losing skid on Thursday evening, Jan. 15, when it welcomes last year's Northeast Conference champion, Mount St. Mary's (6-9, 2-2 NEC), to Stratis Arena. Tipoff in Hackensack is slated for 7 p.m. NEC Front Row will carry a live video broadcast.
 
Last Time Out
The Knights dropped their second consecutive contest after starting the NEC slate with two straight wins, both on the road. FDU struggled from long range (4-of-22) and converted its field goals at a 32.7 percent team clip while also committing 17 turnovers – five more than the team's season average. Freshman Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) continued his hot start to conference play with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting plus a team-high two steals in 24 minutes off the bench. Classmate Earl Potts, Jr. added 11 points and five rebounds, while captain Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) struggled from the field and finished with single-digit points for just the second game this season. Jones, co-captain Matt MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius), and freshman Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) combined to shoot just 7-for-33 from the field.
 
Mount St. Mary's
2014 Season: 6-9 (2-2 NEC)
Where: Hackensack, N.J. (Stratis Arena)
When: January 15, 2015 – 7 p.m.
Series History: FDU holds a 26-23 advantage since 1956
Last Meeting: January 30, 2014 – MSM 87 FDU 82 (OT) in Emmitsburg, Md.
What You Need To Know: The Mount, with a sub .500 record in the regular season last year, won three straight NEC Tournament contests and went on to the NCAA Tournament as the NEC's champion. Two of the key players in that squad, Julien Norfleet and Rashad Whack, have graduated and the team thus far this season have struggled a bit. A 4-7 nonconference record heading in NEC play, Mount lost its first two games on the road before picking up wins against Central Connecticut State and St. Francis Brooklyn at home. On the season, the Mountaineers have compiled a 4-1 record at home and a 2-8 mark on the road. This year, the team is led by transfer Andrew Smeathers' 11.4 ppg on 40 percent shooting. Four others average between seven and 10 points per contest. Junior forward Gregory Graves is second on the team with 9.5 points and leads the team with 6.7 boards per game. Mount employs a true freshman at the point – Junior Robinson – who averages 24.7 minutes, 7.4 points, and 3.5 assists per game.
 
Up Next
The Knights will host Wagner on Saturday, Jan. 17, in the second game of a doubleheader with the women's teams at Stratis Arena. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. NEC Front Row will provide live coverage.