Game 14
Fairleigh Dickinson (4-9, 1-1 NEC) vs Central Connecticut State (8-7, 1-1 NEC)
Date: Thursday, January 4, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Rothman Center – Hackensack, N.J.
Coverage: NEC Front Row
Live Stats

After seven-straight road games, the Knights are back home for the first time since November 26 as they welcome Central Connecticut State to the Rothman Center for their first game of 2018 on Thursday night.
 
The Series... FDU leads 24-17
at FDU..14-6
Streak...W6
Last Meeting... FDU 79, CCSU 62 (2/9/16 at FDU)
 
Knights of Late: The Knights split their opening weekend on the road with an 11-point win at LIU Brooklyn and a last-second, one-point loss at Sacred Heart. The two games capped a stretch of seven straight road games for the Knights, who return to the Rothman Center on Thursday for the first time since Nov. 26. Junior forward Mike Holloway Jr. is off to a great start in NEC play, averaging a team-best 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds across his first two outings. The Knights have enjoyed a +8.5 turnover margin in the first two games and continue force steals at one of the highest rates in the country. Currently, the team forces 16.92 turnovers per game, which ranks 24th in the nation. FDU returns to the road for its next game Saturday against Wagner.
 
Scouting CCSU: At 8-7, the Blue Devils have already eclipsed last season's win total of six games. In their NEC opener on Friday, the Blue Devils upset the preseason NEC No. 1 Saint Francis U 72-68. This past Sunday, the team was hurt by 16 turnovers in a 71-57 loss to Robert Morris. Tonight's game is the first NEC road test of the season for the Blue Devils, who played SFU and RMU at home. The team is led by Junior transfer Tyler Kohl, who ranks among the top 10 in the NEC in scoring (13.7), rebounding (8.2) and assists (3.9). In addition to Kohl, the three-point prowess of Austin Nehls, who mades 2.4 from behind the arc per game. As a team, the Blue Devils are second in the NEC in field goal percentage at 46.3 percent.
 
Last Time Out: The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Sacred Heart, falling 66-65 at the William H. Pitt Center on Sunday afternoon. The Knights (4-9, 1-1 NEC) led by one in the final minute before the Pioneers held possession under their own basket with 5.9 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Sacred Heart's Mario Matasovic drove to the hoop and lofted a floater, which was offline, however, the officials ruled Mike Holloway Jr. goaltended the shot by making contact with the backboard and awarded the go-ahead basket to the Pioneers.
 
The Knights had one final attempt but needed to go the distance of the court with 2.8 seconds remaining. Holloway found Darian Anderson, who fired an off-balance 25-footer, which caromed off of the back of the rim as the final horn sounded.
 
Anderson finished with a full stat line of 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in the loss and moved into ninth-place on the Knights' all-time scoring list passing Ken Webb.  Four Knights scored in double figures in the loss with Holloway., Darnell Edge, Noah Morgan, and Jahlil Jenkins all finishing with 10. Holloway added eight rebounds to his ledger, while Morgan had five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
 
Rookies of the Week: Freshman forward Noah Morgan earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors on Tuesday after averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds through the first weekend of conference play. Across the two games, Morgan shot 50.0 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from downtown and 83.3 percent from the line. Morgan joins teammate Jahlil Jenkins, who won the award in December, as the only two FDU teammates to ever garner Rookie of the Week accolades in the same season.
 
Last Season vs. CCSU: The Knights defense was the story in the team's two wins over CCSU last season. In the first meeting at CCSU, the Knights held the Blue Devils to just 19 second-half points in a 59-47 win. The Blue Devils turned the ball over 16 times in each matchup last season and averaged 54.5 points across the two games. Darnell Edge was the Knights' catalyst averaging 12.5 points, five rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 52.5 percent shooting in the wins.
 
NEC Openers: With Friday's win at LIU Brooklyn, Coach Greg Herenda improved to 5-0 in NEC openers since his arrival at FDU in 2013-14.
 
Holloway Leads the Way: In the Knights' NEC-opening win at LIU, Mike Holloway Jr. netted a career-high 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Twenty of Mike's 27 points came in the paint and the junior forward also grabbed nine rebounds in the win. The FDU big man garnered NEC Primetime Performer recognition by averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on 60 percent shooting last weekend.
 
Protect the Rock: The Knights caused 15 turnovers in their win over LIU Brooklyn on Friday but the key was their ability to limit their own turnovers to just four. The four miscues is the fewest by the team in a game since 3/2/16 and fewest by any NEC team this season.
 
Record Book Update: Anderson continues his ascent up the FDU men's basketball record books and currently sits 34 points away from sole possession of eighth overall on the team's all-time scoring list. He moved to ninth in the team's loss at Sacred Heart on Dec. 31. In addition to his 1,486 points, he has 512 made field goals (8th), 152 three-pointers (6th), 188 steals (2nd), and 332 assists (9th). Anderson already ranks second in steals and top 10 in field goals and three-pointers made. He was picked as Mid-Major Madness' NEC Preseason Player of the Year and named All-NEC Preseason Team.
 
Up Next: The Knights square off with Wagner on Staten Island this Saturday, January 6 at 4:00 p.m.