Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team used good three-point shooting and strong second half defense to earn a 77-62 victory over intrastate rival Saint Peter's on Saturday afternoon at Stratis Arena.  The Knights (2-4) were led by sophomores Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) and Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) who scored 19 and 18 points, respectively.
 
The FDU defense limited the Peacocks (1-4) to just 28 points on 10-of-28 shooting in the second half.  The Knights also forced Saint Peter's into nine second half turnovers.

"That was a quality team win when we needed it most," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "We played great offense, but what excited me most was the way we rebounded the basketball.  I love how the combination of Steph and Earl offensively opens up our entire offense. Those guys open things up for Darian and our big guys.  This team improves every day in practice and today they got what they deserved."
 
After falling behind early in the game - Saint Peter's grabbed a 12-4 lead before the first media timeout - the Knights responded with five three-pointers over a four minute span to tie the game at 19-19.
 
The Peacocks answered with a quick run to go back ahead 28-21 with 7:16 left in the half.  However, the Knights closed the period on an 18-6 run that included a 12-0 stretch to retake the lead with under four minutes to play in the half.  Six different players scored during the run with Jiggetts registering five points.
 
FDU led 39-34 at the break.
 
In the second half, Saint Peter's would remain close, cutting the FDU lead to a single point at the 17:30 mark, but the Knights would hold off the comeback attempt and then pull away for the 15-point victory.
 
Leading 58-54 with 6:41 left to play, the Knights used a 19-6 run to pull ahead by 17 points with just 88 seconds left to play.
 
Potts finished with a game-high 19 points.  He was 8-of-12 from the floor and three-of-five from beyond the arc.  Potts punctuated his day with a dunk off a pass from sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) with 7:02 left to play.
 
Potts also grabbed five rebounds, while playing a team-high 39 minutes.
 
Jiggetts finished with 18 points and was a perfect seven-of-seven at the free throw line.  He also dished out four assists.
 
Anderson was solid across the board for the Knights.  He scored 14 points, posted a team-high six assists, recorded four steals and grabbed three rebounds.  He was also five-of-eight from the field and two-of-two from behind the arc.
 
On the boards, redshirt junior Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
FDU held a 31-22 advantage on the glass in the game.  The Knights also had 16 assists as a team.
 
The Knights shot 54.9% (28-of-51) from the floor and 50.0% (8-of-16) from long range.  FDU was also 86.7 % (13-of-15) at the free throw line.  Saint Peter's finished the day 46.2% (24-of-52) from the field and 34.8% (8-of-23) from beyond the arc.
 
The 28 points allowed by the Knights in the second half are the fewest since limiting Wagner to 18 points in the second half of a game last season.

"It doesn't get any easier - we now turn around and travel to Princeton and Temple within the next four days," Herenda added.  "Our guys are excited about these challenging games and so am I."
 
The Knights will return to action on Monday night at Princeton.  FDU will also visit Temple on Wednesday night.  Both games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip.