Box Score

Philadelphia, Pa. – Sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) scored a career-high 29 points, but it was not enough as the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Temple on Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center.  The Knights (2-6) played well in the final minutes of both halves, closing to 36-34 at the break, and cutting the deficit to eight points in the final minute of regulation before falling to the Owls (3-3), 79-70.

The Knights closed the first half with a 13-2 run over the final three minutes that cut the Temple lead to 36-34 at the break.  Potts sparked the run with a pair of three pointers and sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) added two layups.  The second coming after he recorded a steal, while pressuring the Owls in the frontcourt.  The run was punctuated by a three-pointer from sophomore Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) with seven seconds left in the period.  The score was setup by the defensive play of redshirt junior Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) who blocked a shot and grabbed the rebound to get FDU their final possession.

In the second half, the Knights trailed by as many as 23 points, but worked back into the game and eventually cut the deficit to single digits in the final minute.  Potts hit three free throws and dropped in a layup with 20 seconds left to play to make it 77-69.

"I just loved our effort and our fight tonight," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "That was our third game in five nights.  We played so hard, but Temple was just too big and strong around the basket."
 
Potts scored his 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting and six-of-eight from the field.  He added three points at the free throw line and topped his previous high of 22 on a layup with 2:53 left to play.  His previous high of 22 came last February against Robert Morris.
 
Potts scored 14 points in the first half, while making four three-pointers.
 
"I would give all of those points back to have won that game.  All I was trying to do was win and give the team whatever it needed," Potts said after the game.  "Tonight we became more of a team, just like when we played Saint Peter's, our chemistry keeps getting stronger and stronger."

"What more can you say about Earl Potts," said Herenda.  "I've said this already this year - he is just very hard to guard."
 
As a team the Knights shot 50% (9-of-18) from behind the arc and shot 44.6% (25-of-56) from the field overall.  Temple connected at a 47.2% (25-of-53) rate form the floor, but was just 4-of-19 from long range.
 
The Knights also forced the Owls into 14 turnovers, including eight steals.  FDU converted the turnovers into 16 points.
 
Jiggetts (12) and Anderson (11) also scored in double figures.  The duo combined on 14 of FDU's 18 assists in the game.  Anderson dished out eight and Jiggetts recorded a career-high six assists.  Both players also had three steals in the game.
 
"Other than missing some crucial layups, I just loved the pace of our offense tonight.   We now have a week off, we need rest, and then we'll get back to work.  I just love the potential of this group," added Herenda.

The Knights have opened the season with a challenging scheduled that featured eight games in a span of 20 days.  The Knights' six losses have come to teams that have a combined record of 28-8 this season.

FDU will next play on Wednesday, December 9 at Lafayette.