HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team looks to get back to the .500 mark in Northeast Conference play when it takes on LIU Saturday afternoon.

FDU Knights (3-11, 1-2 NEC) at LIU Sharks (6-9, 1-1 NEC)
Saturday, Jan. 11 – 4:30 PM
Steinberg Wellness Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Watch: NEC Front Row
Notes: KNIGHTS | LIU
Links: Live Stats | Twitter 

All-Time Series
FDU leads 54-53
at LIU..26-28
Last Five..2-3
Streak..W1
First Meeting..LIU  97, FDU 48 (1/22/51 at LIU)
Last Meeting..FDU 80, LIU 77 (1/31/19 at FDU)
With five players in double figures, the Knights took the second meeting between the teams last season. In a game that was nationally-televised on ESPNU and in front of a raucous Burgundy and Blue crowd, the Knights delivered the victory and earned a season series split with the Blackbirds. Senior guard Darnell Edge spearheaded the Knights attack with 20 points and came through with a pair of big 3-pointers in the second half to help solidify the win. Second-year point guard Jahlil Jenkins tallied 15 points with nine assists and five rebounds, while Kaleb Bishop scored 16 points with eight boards.

The Knights made nine 3-pointers and shot 56.3 percent from behind the arc in the win. Senior forward Mike Holloway Jr. chipped in 11 points and sophomore Xzavier Malone-Key added 10 points in the win. Four Blackbirds registered double figures in the loss led by Julian Batts' 17 points. Raul Frias and Ty Flowers each scored 16, while Raiquan Clark finished with 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds. In the win, the Knights blocked six shots -- their second most against a Division I opponent this season --  with Holloway swatting three and Elyjah Williams turning away a pair. This is the eighth time this season that the Burgundy and Blue have notched five players in double figures.

FDU Last Time Out
n a game that came down to the final second, the Knights were edged, 77-75 by Sacred Heart at the Rothman Center on Thursday night.

The Knights trailed by eight points with 1:25 to play but mounted a furious comeback, which was capped Jahlil Jenkins' game-tying, driving layup with 6.9 seconds to play. On the ensuing possession, Sacred Heart (9-7, 2-1 NEC) sophomore point guard Cameron Parker drove to the basket and drew a foul. With 0.8 on the clock, Parker converted both free throws and sealed the win for his team.

Jenkins finished with a game-high 24 points and matched his career-high with four 3-pointers. The junior point guard added four rebounds, two assists and two steals to his ledger in the loss. Senior forward Kaleb Bishop scored 19 with nine rebounds and a pair of blocks, while Xzavier Malone-Key and Brandon Powell scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Koreem Ozier poured in 23 points to pace the Pioneers, while E.J. Anosike double-doubled with 19 points and 12 boards, and Parker scored 10 with six assists.

The Knights made a season-high 11-of-22 from three-point range but lost the battle on the glass 38-30. The visiting Pioneers made 46 percent overall and 9-of-20 from behind the arc.

Coach Herenda's Thoughts
"The key to tonight's game was not coming out ready to start the game and the second half," said Greg Herenda following the loss. "It's a shame that we didn't win this game tonight but we just didn't play for the entire 40 minutes. This group knows how to come back. We've been doing it for the seven years that I have been here but we didn't defend for the last seven seconds."

"The thing that makes me the saddest is that this was the first home game that my uncle was not here for and that hurts me not only as a nephew but also as the head coach of FDU Basketball," Herenda concluded. "He was as big a part of this program as anyone and the one lasting memory we will have of him is the American flag that hangs over the Rothman Center. He donated it to FDU and his legacy will always look down over me and our program."

What's Next
The Knights return home to host Saint Francis U next Wednesday, January 15 at 5:00 p.m. The game will air on ESPNU.