HAMDEN, Conn. – The Northeast Conference preseason favorite Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team begins its 2020-21 season on Wednesday afternoon at Quinnipiac.

Game Info
FDU (0-0, 0-0 NEC) at Quinnipiac (0-0, 0-0 MAAC)
Nov. 25 - 4:30 PM | Peoples United Center (Hamden, Conn.)

Coverage: ESPN3 | Live Stats
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsMBB

Game Notes: FDU | Quinnipiac

All-Time Series
FDU leads 17-15
Last Meeting: FDU 78, Quinnipiac 77 (12/3/19 at FDU)
In a contest that came down to the final two seconds, the Knights earned a 78-77 victory at the Rothman Center last season. With the game tied at 77-77 with five seconds left on the clock, Xzavier Malone-Key drove down the floor, drew a foul, and converted one of two free throws to seal the win. Malone-Key scored a game-high 29 points and Jahlil Jenkins netted 17 points in the victory, while Quinnipiac was paced by redshirt sophomore Savion Lewis' 14 points and six rebounds. The win snapped a five-game skid for the Knights in the series.

Scouting Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac went 15-15 last year and finished fifth in the MAAC. Junior Tyrese Williams and senior Jacob Rigoni earned Preseason All-MAAC Second and Third Team honors, respectively, while the team was projected fourth in the conference's coaches poll.
More on Quinnipiac

Scouting FDU
The Knights were selected first in this season's NEC Preseason Poll, their second time earning the designation in the Greg Herenda era. Jenkins, an All-NEC Second Team honoree a season ago and classmate Elyjah Williams were each named to the All-NEC Preseason Team. The Knights are coming off a campaign in which they averaged 72.2 points per game and shot 45.2 percent from the floor. As has been the case throughout Herenda's eight seasons at the helm, the Knights featured a balanced attack with four players averaging 10.0 or more points per game.

2019-20 FDU Season Recap
The Knights concluded the regular season by winning three straight conference games and earned the fifth seed in the NEC Tournament before suffering a thrilling one-point loss at fourth-seed LIU. In addition to Jenkins, senior forward Kaleb Bishop was named All-NEC Third Team and freshman guard Devon Dunn garnered NEC All-Rookie honors a season ago.

Coach Herenda's Thoughts on the New Season
"Obviously we are very excited to start a season that will be like no other. I really love this team and how they have come together so quickly during these most difficult times."

"Having two premier players in Jahlil and Elyjah leading the way is crucial. These guys have helped make history here and we all want more. Our returners have all come back hungry and improved and I cannot say enough about our three freshmen. They have adapted incredibly well and will be asked to make an immediate impact."

"Our mantra all year will be to finish the race and to stay the course. If we can do that each and every day then our ultimate goal of winning another NEC Championship and finding ourselves in Indianapolis will be within our grasp again."

What's Next
The Knights will travel to Piscataway, N.J. on Friday, November 27 for a road contest against No. 24 Rutgers at 7:00 PM in the 2020 New Jersey Hoop Group Classic. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.