HACKENSACK, N.J. – A blistering shooting performance in the first half propelled the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team to an 87-84 victory over Bryant University on Saturday afternoon at Stratis Arena.
 
The Knights (6-9, 4-0 NEC) nearly squandered a 22-point halftime lead but held off a furious rally by the Bulldogs (4-12, 1-3 NEC) to prevail with the win and remain unbeaten in NEC play.
 
Bryant fought its way to within one in the final minute and had a last-chance, half-court, game-tying 3-pointer sail off the mark as Fairleigh Dickinson escaped with the victory.
 
With the win, the Knights improve to 4-0 in conference play – their best start since the 1992-93 season when they won their first six NEC tilts.

Following the win head coach Greg Herenda said, "That was truly a tale of two halves -- we were incredible in the first half and Bryant was great in the second half. It is a 40-minute game and if you do not take care of the ball that is what can happen to you. I cannot lie, the late Wagner game took a toll on us and we did not have much left in the tank but give Bryant credit. They are really talented and never gave in."
 
Junior point guard Stephan Jiggetts was one of five Knights to score in double figures on the afternoon as he paced the squad with 20 points and a game-high six assists. Jiggetts was a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown, buried 5-of-7 (71.4%) overall, and all seven of his free throw attempts in the win. 

On his junior point guard's performance, Herenda said, "Once again, Stephan Jiggetts was our rock in the middle of a crazy, crazy game."
 
The Knights knocked down a season-high 13 3-pointers in the win on 19 attempts, their largest output since drilling 15 against FDU-Florham back on November 17, 2014.
 
Nine of those 13 trifectas came in the first half, as the team connected on 9-of-11 (81.8%) in the opening stanza. The nine first-half 3-pointers are the most since the team matched that number back on February 20, 2014 against this same Bulldog squad.
 
Overall, Fairleigh Dickinson netted its highest field goal percentage of the season, finishing the game at 58.3 percent (28-for-48).
 
The Knights started a scorching hot 5-for-7 from downtown and built a double-digit lead, 32-20, midway through the first half.  Jiggetts and Potts Jr. each tallied 10 points over that stretch, with Potts Jr. connecting twice from downtown.
 
The hot shooting continued as the Knights increased their cushion to 22 points, 56-34, with just under three minutes to play in the half. While the Knights were locked in from 3-point range at 8-of-10 (80%), the Bulldogs struggled with an 0-for-6 start.
 
Once the halftime horn had sounded, the Knights held a 56-34 cushion. Fairleigh Dickinson notched a final total of 9-of-11 (81.8%) from distance and 19-of-28 (67.9%) overall in the half.
 
Defensively, the Knights limited the Bulldogs to 11-of-28 (39.3%) from the floor and 1-of-8 (12.5%) from 3-point range in the stanza.
 
Three Knights tallied double-digits in the half – Jiggetts (15), Anderson (12) and Potts Jr. (10).
 
After the Knights enhanced their lead to as much as 26 points, 64-38, with 17:15 to go, the Bulldogs proceeded to claw their way back into the game.
 
A 30-6 run, which spanned 9:46 brought the Bulldogs to within five, 70-65, with eight to play. The NEC's leading scorer Nisre Zouzoua led the push with 12 points over that stretch as Bryant knocked down 8-of-14 from the field.
 
Darnell Edge finally ended the cold stretch for the Knights with a corner 3-pointer.
 
Bryant continued its surge and after a pair of free throws by Bosto Koskur and a layup by Zouzoua made it a one-point game, 83-82 with 57 seconds to go.
 
Anderson converted a pair at the line to give the Knights a three-point lead with 33 ticks left. The teams traded a pair of misses before Marcel Pettway dropped in a layup with 1.7 to go.
 
A Bryant foul sent to Jiggetts to the stripe and the Knights' junior guard promptly drained the clutch free throws to push the lead back to three. Zouzoua attempted a half-court heave as time expired but it caromed off the rim as the final horn sounded.
 
Zouzoua finished with a game-high 22 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Pettway added 21 to go along with six boards.
 
For the Knights, Earl Potts Jr. netted a season-best 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including four 3-pointers, while Anderson and Mike Holloway each tallied 14 points and Edge finished with 13.

Herenda added, "We are 4-0 and need rest and that is exactly what we are going to do."
 
Fairleigh Dickinson is on the road for their next two outings beginning with a trip to Mount St. Mary's on Thursday, January 12 at 7 p.m. Following the date with the Mountaineers, the Knights travel to Central Connecticut State on Saturday, January 14 at 3:30 p.m.