Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart by a score of 91-86 on Saturday night at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.  The loss drops the Knights (13-14, 9-7 NEC) into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Northeast Conference.  Sophomore Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) led FDU with 27 points and five rebounds.

The Pioneers (11-16, 10-6 NEC) remain in a tie for second place in the NEC.

FDU and Sacred Heart went back-and-forth on the scoreboard for the entire game with 14 lead changes and the score tied 13 times.

The Knights biggest lead of the game came with 9:07 left in the second half as FDU went in front 74-64 on a pair of free throws by sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ).   However, the Pioneers quickly closed the gap and tied the game at 81-81 with 3:23 left to play.

SHU's Cane Broome scored a game-high 39 points and led the Pioneer comeback.

"It was a very disappointing night to send Myles (Mann) out on.  Myles is the last player that I did not recruit that is leaving," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "He has graduated in less than four years and that is a credit to him and this institution."
 
"I just wanted so bad to win that game for him and we just were not good enough to get it done."
 
Prior to the game, the Knights honored Mann who completed his undergraduate degree in history in January and is currently working toward a master's degree in education.
 
"We just need to get back to the basics and do three things - defend, rebound and take better care of the ball.  It is really that plain and simple."
 
The Knights committed 20 turnovers, while Sacred Heart had just nine.  FDU did hold a 41-39 advantage on the glass.
 
FDU shot well from the floor (45%, 27-of-60) and was excellent from behind the arc (45.8%, 11-of-24) and at the free throw line (75%, 21-of-28).
 
After the 81-81 timeout, Sacred Heart grabbed a two-point lead, but it was quickly answered by a layup from freshman Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick ).  A layup by Tevin Falzon on the ensuing possession and a jumper by Broome - after an FDU turnover - swung the moment in Sacred Heart's favor.  Broome would follow with two free throws to give his team a six-point lead.
 
The Knights answered the deficit with a three-pointer by sophomore Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) to cut it to a one possession game with 36 seconds remaining, but Sacred Heart hit two-of-four free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Jiggetts (27) was one of five Knights to score in double figures.  Anderson (18), sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding ) (14), Holloway (11) and sophomore Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) (10)  all posted double-digit points.
 
Potts also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Knights return to action on Thursday night at Mount St. Mary's.  That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip and can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com.