HACKENSACK, N.J. – Led by redshirt junior guard Xzavier Malone-Key's game-high 23 points, the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team rolled to an 83-60 victory over Central Connecticut State inside the Rothman Center on Monday afternoon.
 
Donning their alternate black uniforms for the first time, the Knights registered their best shooting performance of the season, knocking down 53.4 percent overall and draining 11-of-22 from three-point range in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day victory.
 
Malone-Key notched his point total with an efficient 9-of-13 performance, which included 3-of-4 from long range. Junior guard Jahlil Jenkins added 16 for the Knights (4-13, 2-4 NEC), while sophomore Brandon Powell extended his streak of double-digit scoring efforts to five games by netting 13 points with eight boards in the win.
 
Junior forward Elyjah Williams contributed to the Knights' 42-36 rebounding advantage by nabbing 13 caroms to go along with nine points, four assists and a pair of blocked shots.
 
Xavier Wilson topped the box score for the Blue Devils (1-19, 0-7 NEC) with 12 points as the team shot 35 percent overall and just 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) from behind the arc.

"I am really proud of the entire team tonight," said Greg Herenda following his team's win. "We went back to the gym and worked our tails off the last four days and this game was the product of four great practices. Individually, we had some great performances but Xzavier was very special tonight. He played with great focus and poise and our whole group fed off of him and Jahlil. Today was a big step in the right direction but we still have to continue to improve posession by possession -- plain and simple."
 
A pair of 3-pointers by freshman Devon Dunn sparked an 11-0 run, which broke open a tie game and gave the Knights a 26-15 lead with 6:59 to play in the opening half. Dunn accounted for eight of the team's 11 over that span and forced a CCSU timeout after finishing off a fast break layup.
 
The Knights would lead by nine or more points for the duration of the half before ultimately carrying a 40-29 cushion into the break.
 
Powell paced the Burgundy and Blue with 10 points and five rebounds in the opening stanza, while Malone-Key scored nine and Dunn finished with eight. The trio each connected on 2-of-3 from behind the arc as the Knights drained a season-high, eight first-half 3-pointers on 13 tries. Overall, the Knights shot 53 percent in the half, while holding the Blue Devils to 35 percent.
 
The Burgundy and Blue continued to surge after intermission with Jenkins leading the charge. Jenkins poured in 10 points in eight minutes as the Knights established an 18-point lead, 59-41 with 12:06 to play.
 
A layup by Wilson brought the Blue Devils to within 11 with 10 minutes to go but sophomore Bassel Saliba Jr. answered with a bucket for the Knights who eventually rebuilt their cushion and finalized the 23-point victory.
 
The Knights hit the road for their next three contests beginning this Thursday, January 23 against Merrimack. Tip-of is set for 7:00 p.m. in North Andover, Mass.