EMMITSBURG, Md. – Senior forward Mike Holloway Jr. registered a double-double and propelled the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team to their fourth win in a row, 65-59, over Mount St. Mary's at Knott Arena on Thursday night.
 
Holloway racked up 18 points and 14 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting in the win and did most of his work in the second half where he scored 16 points.
 
Four Knights (16-13, 11-6) scored in double figures as sophomore Xzavier Malone-Key had 12 points, classmate Jahlil Jenkins had 11 and senior guard Darnell Edge added 10.
 
After scoring just 20 points and trailing by 14 points at the half, the Knights shot 53.6 percent in the second half and raised their overall field goal percentage to 42.9 percent. The Knights entered the game ranked seventh nationally in three-point field goal percentage but connected on just 3-of-12 from deep in the win.
 
The Burgundy and Blue out-rebounded the Mountaineers (8-22, 5-12 NEC) 41-34 in the contest and limited them to 33.9 percent from the floor.
 
With the win, the Knights further solidified their second-place spot in the NEC standings with one game to play. They are assured a home NEC Quarterfinal game next Wednesday, March 6.

"Mike's second half alone may be a better performance than his 35-point night he had a few weeks ago," said head coach Greg Herenda. "He played like a senior captain that literally willed his team to a huge road victory. It was great to see Xzavier step up when we needed a big shot and he had a bunch of crucial takes to the hoop. Jahlil had a tremendous second half but ultimately the guys just kept their poise and gutted that victory out. We played that game in honor of Ken Vehrkens and I know that he had a lot to do with that comeback. He was certainly looking over his Knights tonight."

In the loss, Malik Jefferson scored 16 points with seven rebounds and Omar Habwe added 13 for the Mount.

The Knights were held scoreless over the first 5:25 of the game before Kaleb Bishop ended the drought with a free throw.  As a team, they missed their first eight shots from the floor until Elyjah Williams converted a layup six minutes into play.
 
Despite the cold start the Knights weathered the storm and trailed 10-7 at the second media timeout.
 
As the Burgundy and Blue's shooting woes continued, the Mount established their first double-digit lead on a 3-pointer by Habwe and the lead stood at 30-16 with under three minutes to go in the half. When the halftime horn had sounded, the Mount held a 34-20 lead, while limiting the Knights to 32 percent on 9-of-28 from the field.
 
Williams paced the Knights with six points and three rebounds in the half. Habwe's 11 first-half points led the way for the Mount who shot 40.6 percent and made 4-of-16 from downtown.
 
The Knights, who entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in three-point field goal percentage were held to just 1-of-6 from behind the arc in the stanza.
 
Out of the break, the Knights scored the first six points and crashed the glass to nab four offensive boards in the first two minutes, including a pair of putback baskets by Holloway and Kaleb Bishop.
 
With Holloway shouldering the load, the Knights continued to surge and tied the game at 36 with 13:33 to play in regulation. The senior forward scored 11 of the team's first 16 points in the half.
 
The Mount answered with a 10-2 spurt and rebuilt their lead to 46-37 with under 10 minutes to go.
 
The Knights remained undeterred and stormed back with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a three-point play by Edge, which put his team on top 47-46. Edge, who had missed his first seven shots, drove down the baseline and laid the ball in through the contact before converting his free throw.
 
After the teams exchanged leads, Malone-Key hit the shot of the night by draining a shot-clock beating, corner 3-pointer to put the Knights on top 56-54 with under two minutes to go. Edge followed by splashing a 3-pointer of his own from the top of the key and the Knights sealed the win at the free throw line.
 
The Burgundy and Blue close out the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday at Central Connecticut State. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. in New Britain, Conn.