Box Score

Emmitsburg, Md. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team delivered its best defensive performance of the season in a 67-54 victory over Mount St. Mary's.  The Knights were led by an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double from sophomore Earl Potts Jr. (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding )

With the victory FDU improves to 14-14 overall on the season and 10-7 in Northeast Conference play.  The Knights are part of a four-way tie for second place in the conference along with Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart and St. Francis Brooklyn.

Mount falls to 13-17 overall and 10-7 in the conference.

With the Knights trailing 32-28 at the half, Potts and classmate Marques Townes (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph (Metuchen)) delivered in the second half.  The duo combined for FDU's first 10 points of the second period with Potts connecting on a three-pointer to tie the game at 36-36 and Townes following with a layup to give FDU its first lead of the game.

Potts would collect 13 points and seven rebounds in the second half with Townes posting 12 of his 16 after intermission.

Townes' layup, which came with 16:01 left in the game, gave the Knights the lead for good.  FDU led for the remainder of the contest and pulled away from the Mountaineers over the final two minutes.

"That was what the doctor ordered," head coach Greg Herenda said after the game.  "I am so proud of my team - to beat Mount in their building is always huge, but the timing of it makes it even more special."
 
"Earl stepped up in a big way again. He is right there with Sid (Sanders) as far as his improvement is concerned. Then you add Darian, Steph and Marques to the equation and you have a really sensational sophomore class."
 
Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) and Darian Anderson (Washington, D.C./St. John's College ) scored 10 and 14 points, respectively, to join Potts and Townes in double figures.
 
After FDU grabbed the lead, Mount was able to cut the deficit to a single-point on three occasions, but each time Townes, Anderson or Potts scored to keep the Knights in front.
 
FDU limited the Mount to 32.2% (19-of-59) from the field and 24% (6-of-25) from behind the arc.
 
The Knights shot 48.1% (25-of-52) from the floor and 50% (7-of-14) from long range.
 
FDU also held a 41-34 advantage on the glass and led the Mountaineers in points in the paint (28-18), points off turnovers (18-8) and second chance points (13-7).
 
The 54 points allowed are the fewest for the Knights since limiting Bryant to 52 in a 63-52 victory on February 20, 2014.  Mount's 32.3% shooting mark is the lowest for an FDU opponent since the Knights held Columbia to a 31.8% (14-44) shooting performance on November 25, 2014.
 
Anderson finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.  He eclipsed the 100 assist mark for the season during the game.
 
"Now we have to get on a bus and head north. We need to defend and rebound like that on Saturday. We have one more regular season road game and we need to focus on that right now," Herenda added.
 
The Knights will return to action on Saturday at Central Connecticut.  FDU will be looking to secure the #2 seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament.