Box Score

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Robert Morris by a score of 64-58 on Saturday at the Sewall Center.  The Knights (8-9, 4-2 NEC) were led by 13 points and nine rebounds from freshman Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick ), while Elijah Minnie scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Colonials (4-15, 2-4 NEC).

Leading 29-26 at the half, FDU expanded its lead to seven points early in the second period and maintained the advantage until the 9:19 mark when RMU tied the game on a Kavon Stewart layup.  The Colonials grabbed the lead on a free throw by Isaiah Still two possessions later and then extended it to three points on a pair of free throws by Minnie.  A layup by Conrad Stephens pushed the lead to five points with 5:32 remaining.

The Knights responded and cut the deficit to a single point on three occasions in the final five minutes, but each time RMU answered with points on the ensuing possession.  The final time with Minnie hitting a three-pointer to put the Colonials up 60-56 with 1:36 left in the game.

"Give all the credit to the kids in the red camouflage.  They were quicker to every tough rebound and 50-50 loose ball," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "We just didn't come up with the ball or the big plays when we needed them."
 
"That was our first conference road loss in a very difficult building. We just simply did not do enough on both sides of the ball to come out of here with a win."

Jiggetts finished with a team-high 15 points.  He was joined in double figures by Holloway with 13 points and sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) with 10.

Holloway's nine rebounds led the Knights, but Potts was close behind with eight boards.  Holloway was also credited with four assists and two blocks in the game.

Both of Holloway's blocks came late in the first half as he blocked a shot by Elijah Minnie in the lane and then denied a Kavon Stewart three-point attempt to force a shot clock violation.

The Colonials scored 18 points off of FDU turnovers and held a 15-8 advantage in points off the bench.

The Knights shot 52.2% (12-of-23) from the floor in the first half, but 12 turnovers limited FDU to just 29 points and a three-point lead at the break.  FDU shot just 32.1% (9-of-28) from the floor and 18.2% (2-of-11 from three in the second half to finish the game with shooting percentages of 41.2% (21-of-51)from the field and 26.2% (5-of-19) from beyond the arc.

Robert Morris was 40.4% (21-of-52) and 26.3% (5-of-19) in the contest.

Both teams shot well at the free throw line with the Knights connecting on 11-of-13 and Robert Morris hitting on 17-of-21.

RMU also had a 34-31 advantage on the boards.

The Colonials and Knights were both wearing special camouflage uniforms for Hoops and Troops, presented by Shale Land Services, a game set-up to benefit Legacies Alive, a non-profit organization in Washington, Pa. that strengthen and support the families of our nation's fallen heroes.

The Knights will return to action on Thursday, January 21 against LIU Brooklyn.  FDU and the Blackbirds will tip-off at 7 p.m. inside Stratis Arena at the Rothman Center.