Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Army West Point on Wednesday night at Stratis Arena by a score of 96-85.  The Black Knights (3-0) jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half and were able to hold off a furious second half comeback attempt by the Knights (1-2) that cut the deficit to five with just 3:50 left to play.

"I am really proud of my team," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "We fought really, really hard to get back into the game, but their experience was just too much for us tonight. We turned them over 25 times, but they were relentless and just kept on coming. This is part of the maturation process. I love my group - it's just going to be a matter of time before this team grows up and starts winning these types of games."
 
With 3:53 left to play sophomore Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) stole the ball and delivered a layup to cut the deficit to five points.  However, Army's Kyle Wilson answered with back-to-back three pointers to put the Black Knights back up by 11 points.  Wilson finished the game with 36 points on a 13-of-17 shooting performance.
 
"I was on the staff at Holy Cross that won the first ever Patriot League championship and if there is a better Patriot League player (Kyle Wilson) I would be very surprised. When we cut it to five he just delivered, like all of the great ones do," Herenda added.
 
Army led 52-39 at the half after shooting 62.5% (20-of-32) from the field and 7-of-13 from behind the arc.
 
FDU came out strong in the second half with 10 points over the first five minutes to cut the Army lead to single digits.  From there the teams would trade baskets with Army's lead hovering in the low double-digits until the Knights late run.
 
FDU would outscore Army 46-44 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome the Black Knights' first half performance.
 
Sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) led the Knights with 22 points on 10-of-23 shooting.  Townes (18), sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) and senior Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) (11) also scored in double-digits.  O'Garro also had a team-high seven rebounds in the game.
 
Army finished the game shooting 52.2% (12-of-23) from beyond the arc.
 
The FDU defense forced Army into 25 turnovers, including 11 steals.  Potts led the defense with five steals.
 
FDU held a 50-34 advantage on points in the paint, but Army dominated the glass outrebounding FDU 45-23.  Army's Tanner Plomb led all players with 16 rebounds.  He also had 16 points.
 
The Knights shot 46.8% (36-of-77) from the floor and 35.3% (6-of-17) from beyond the arc.
 
The Knights will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Fordham.