Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – Sophomore Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) scored 17 second half points as the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team earned an 86-77 win over St. Francis Brooklyn in its Northeast Conference opener.  The Knights improve to 5-7 on the season and 1-0 in NEC play, while the Terriers fall to 4-10 and 0-1 in the conference.

Jiggetts finished with a career-high 23 points and added four assists in 32 minutes of action to lead FDU.

"What can I say about Stephan - he played an absolutely tremendous second half," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "You could see it in his eyes tonight - he is growing up by the possession. When you add Darian (Anderson) and Earl (Potts) to the equation you have a really potent trio offensively."
 
The Knights carried a 47-40 lead into halftime thanks to back-to-back three pointers by sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ).  Anderson sank a three with 24 seconds left and then, after a St. Francis turnover, hit a long three as time expired to give FDU a seven-point lead.
Anderson finished with 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

The Terriers came back in the second half and grabbed a 74-72 lead with 3:56 remaining, but it was short-lived thanks to three straight baskets by Jiggetts.  On the ensuing possession Jiggetts connected on a layup to tie the game and then on FDU's next trip down the floor he hit a jumper to give the Knights a 76-74 lead.  He would knock down a three on the next possession to give his team a 79-74 advantage with 2:29 left to play.

St. Francis cut the deficit to four points with a free throw, but with 1:14 left to play freshman Ghassan Nehme (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to give FDU a 82-75 lead.  Anderson would add a layup and sophomore Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) would ice the game with a pair of free throws with less than 10 seconds left to play.

The Knights excelled at the free throw line and from beyond the arc.  FDU hit 10-of-20 three-point attempts and 12-of-13 free throw attempts in the game.  Jiggetts and Anderson both connected on three-of-four long range attempts and were a combined seven-of-seven at the free throw line.

FDU also forced the Terriers into 16 turnovers, while committing just seven.

Amdy Fall led the Terriers - last season's NEC Regular Season Champions - with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.

Sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) contributed 16 points, five rebounds and two steals.  He was 6-of-11 shooting in the game.

Freshman Dondre Rhoden (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park / Putnam Science Academy) also played well off the bench scoring six points, while registering three blocks and two rebounds in 17 minutes.
Townes finished with 11 points and added five rebounds and two steals.

"God bless Dondre Rhoden (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park / Putnam Science Academy) - he was awesome off the bench. When we needed a lift most he was there for us." Herenda added, "St. Francis is a very well coached, veteran team, but my guys again found a way to overcome and win."
 
"Again, we just need improve on the glass and the defensive end, but tonight we came up with some huge stops and rebounds."

The win gives FDU a victory in its NEC opener for the fourth straight year, including all three seasons under Coach Herenda.
 
The Knights return to action on Monday night against Bryant.  FDU will host the Bulldogs for a 7:30 p.m. tip following the FDU-Bryant women's basketball game at 5 p.m.  Both games can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com.