Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team dropped a 76-62 decision to Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.  The Knights (7-16, 2-10 NEC) were led by a career-high 22 points from freshman Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ), but it was not enough to overcome a 61% shooting performance by the Colonials (12-12, 8-4 NEC).

The Knights trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but a 13-6 closing run cut the Colonial lead to just four points at the break.  FDU carried the momentum into the second half, tying the game at 38-38 by the 17:00 minute mark.

A put-back dunk by Potts with 16:23 left to play would tie the game at 40-40 and a three-pointer by sophomore Matt MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) with 14:35 remaining would force the third tie of the half.  The Knights and Colonials would trade baskets on the ensuing possessions with a Potts jumper tying the game at 47-47 with 13:34 to play.

The Colonials built a seven-point lead over the ensuing three minutes, but FDU continued to battle and cut the deficit to four points on a pair of occasions.  A free throw by senior Darius Stokes (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) pulled the Knights to 64-60 with 4:08 remaining, but the Colonials answered with two free throws by Rodney Pryor and a three-pointer by Lucky Jones to take a 69-60 lead with just over two minutes to play.

"Tonight we shared the ball very well, made a bunch of shots, but we just couldn't stop Robert Morris in any one-on-one situations.  It truly seemed like they didn't miss a shot all game," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "Earl Potts played extremely well and ignited our offense.  It was also great to see Matt (MacDonald) break out and play well."

Potts finished with a team-high 22 points on a 9-of-12 shooting performance.  He was one-of-two from beyond the arc and three-of-five at the free throw line.  The Maryland native also grabbed six rebounds in 29 minutes of action.

Senior Mustafaa Jones (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) scored 14 points with 12 coming on his four three-pointers.  MacDonald, 12 points, was also hot from beyond the arc connecting on three three-pointers in six attempts.  He was four-of-eight from the floor.

Sophomore Malachi Nix (Evanston, Ill./Niles North) and freshman Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) each dished out five assists in the game as FDU registered an assist on 18 of 24 made field goals on the day.

The Colonials shot 61.2% (30-49) from the floor and 44.4% (4-9) from beyond the arc.  The Knights were 46.2% (24-52) and 36.0% (9-25) from deep. RMU was also 12-of-17 at the free throw line compared to 5-of-11 for FDU.

The Colonials also held a 28-23 advantage on the glass.

The score at halftime was 38-34.

RMU's Lucky Jones led all players with 24 points.  Two other Colonials also scored in double figures in the game.

With his fourth three-point attempt of the game, Jones surpassed Brad McClain (Class of '92) for FDU's all-time career record for three-point field goals attempts.  Jones finished the day with a school record 475 three-point attempts.  He is also just 10 made three-pointers away from breaking McClains FDU career record (187).

"We just need to put everything together and then the outcomes will be differenc," Herenda added.

FDU returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 7 against Bryant.  The Knights and Bulldogs will tip-off at 7 p.m.at Stratis Arena.  Following that game FDU will go on the road to play at Wagner, St. Francis Brooklyn and Mount St. Mary's.