STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Fairleigh Dickinson hit six second half three-pointers and shot 50-percent from the floor to beat Wagner 87-79 in the Northeast Conference Tournament Championship Game to secure the Knights' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2005.

Earl Potts Jr -- named the NEC Tournament's Most Valuable Player -- had 27 points, including 17 in the second half to lead Fairleigh Dickinson (18-14). Darian Anderson -- named to the All-Tournament Team -- had 28 points for the Knights -- including 13 in the final two minutes -- and added six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Potts had seven rebounds and four assists to go along with his 27.

Fairleigh Dickinson erased a five-point halftime deficit and multiple spurts in the second half to build a 65-59 lead off of a Potts three with 5:44 to play. Marques Townes hit a three from the corner to give the Knights a 10-point lead, 70-60, with 4:16 to play.

Ghassan Nehme provided seven points and two steals off the bench for the Knights, including four in the opening five minutes of the second half that helped spark the Knights' comeback. Malik Miller also added seven points, five rebounds and a block off the bench.

"We are going dancing and I do not care who it is with as long as I'm bringing the boys in Burgundy and Blue," an ecstatic head coach Greg Herenda said after winning his first NEC Championship and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  "Earl and Darian led the way and the rest of the guys followed. We play with so much heart and grit.  When we were down 13-2 we showed great composure well beyond our years."

"This is a championship for our University, our alums, our fans and most of all the players of Fairleigh Dickinson University. It is a beautiful thing." 

Wagner (22-10) got within seven (78-71) with a minute to play, but Anderson hit three free throws over two trips to push the lead back to 10.  Anderson scored 10 of his 27 points in the final three minutes of the game.

Wagner started the night on a 13-2 run over the opening four minutes of the game. The Seahawks maintained the lead throughout the half, but Fairleigh Dickinson kept coming.

The Knights made it 15-11 after Darian Anderson converted a three-point play at the 12:59 mark of the opening period. However, the Seahawks pushed the lead back to 10 (21-11) less than three minutes later.

Potts Jr. drove baseline for two to get the Knights to within six, 26-20, with 5:29 left in the first half. Wagner responded again and moved it back to 10 (30-20) with 4:02 left, but the Knights answered with a 10-0 run that closed the score to 31-30 and was capped by Nehme hitting a three-pointer after getting a steal to regain possession.

The Seahawks were led by Corey Henson with 24 points. Michael Carey had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Knights now await their opponent and location of their NCAA Tournament game. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air on Sunday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. on CBS.