Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team earned a 92-73 victory over Central Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at Stratis Arena.  The Knights (7-8, 3-1 NEC) scored 50 points in the first half and cruised to a 19-point victory over the visiting Blue Devils (1-14, 0-4 NEC).

Sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) led the Knights with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals in 30 minutes of action.

The victory was also the 150th as a collegiate head coach for FDU's Greg Herenda.

Potts connected on 8-of-10 attempts from the floor and was four-of-six from behind the arc.  He also connected on a pair of free throws to finish with 22 points.  It is his second consecutive 20-point game and his fifth of the season.

"Once we got going today we were a pretty good team," Herenda said after the victory.  "What I love most, is just how hard and how unselfish we play.  When we struggled early today our bench really got us going.  I love our depth - we had 5 guys in double figures, but more importantly everyone on this team contributes so hard every day in practice."
 
"We still have much more work to do defensively and on the glass, but I just love being in the gym with this group on a daily basis."
 
CCSU scored on five of its first six possessions to grab an 11-4 lead four minutes into the game.  The Knights answered with a layup by Potts that sparked an 11-0 run to take the lead.  CCSU interrupted the streak with a basket, but FDU added another 12 points to hold a 30-13 lead with 8:47 left in the half.
 
The Knights led by 21 points late in the period, but the Blue Devils were able to hit a late three-pointer to send the game to the half with FDU in front 50-32.
 
FDU out-scored the Blue Devils 42-41 in the second half and did not let the Blue Devils pull within 15 points at any time.  The Knights biggest lead of the game came with five minutes left to play as freshman Ghassan Nehme (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) sank a layup to give FDU a 87-57 lead.
 
Nehme would finish with 10 points and was one of five Knights in double figures.  Potts (22), sophomore Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) (18), sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) (13), Nehme (10) and freshman Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick ) (10) all finished with double-digit points.
 
The Knights shot 55.6% (35-of-63) from the floor and connected at a 52.6% (10-of-19) clip from long range.    FDU also recorded a season-high 20 assists in the game.
 
In addition to his 13 points, Anderson posted four assists and two steals.  Freshman DaRon Curry (Deptford, N.J./Phelps School) also had four assists to share the team-high with Anderson.
 
Sophomore Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) chipped in eight points, two assists and four steals.
 
The Knights and Blue Devils were even, 34-34, on the boards, but FDU held a 42-30 advantage on scoring in the paint and scored 25 points off 17 CCSU turnovers.  FDU turned the ball over just 10 times.
 
The 92 points are the most against a Division I opponent for FDU this season.
 
In addition to being his 150th career win, the victory was also Herenda's 25th as the head coach at FDU.

"I am just thankful to be a college basketball coach. I love the profession, I love my staff, but most of all I love my players," Herenda said on Saturday evening.
 
"The number 150 makes you stop and reflect a little bit, but I have just been very fortunate to have coached so many great young men and I have always had great, great assistants. I am a very lucky guy."
 
The Knights return to action on Thursday, January 14 at Saint Francis U and then travel to Robert Morris for a Saturday afternoon game.  Both games can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com.