HACKENSACK, N.J. – Six Knights scored in double figures to lead the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team to a 79-71 victory over Central Connecticut State inside the Rothman Center on Wednesday afternoon.
The senior duo of
Elyjah Williams and
Jahlil Jenkins led the way, as Williams registered his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jenkins scored 11 and matched his career-high with nine assists. Making his season debut, junior guard
Brandon Powell contributed 11 points and seven rebounds as the Knights led for all but 21 seconds in the win.
Coach Herenda's Thoughts
Postgame Video
"That was a great response by our team tonight. Give Central credit for Tuesday's win but we all knew that we needed to make a statement tonight and we did. We had six players in double figures and 18 assists but our defensive effort was the key to our victory tonight."
"I have been talking about our freshmen since they have come on campus and Mikey certainly did not disappoint us tonight. These young men have been so instrumental to our program during these difficult times both on and off the floor. Mikey, Joe and P.O. have fit into this program from day one and today they all enjoyed the first conference victory together."
How It Happened
- A 7-for-7 start from the field propelled the Knights to a 14-5 lead five minutes into play.
- The Knights established their first double-digit lead of the contest when Brandon Rush canned a free throw with 8:12 to play in the opening stanza.
- A balanced scoring attack with six players tallying five or more first half points led the Knights to a 39-32 halftime lead.
- The Burgundy and Blue shot 53.8 percent from the field and held the Blue Devils to just 31 percent in the opening half.
- After the Blue Devils clawed to within four, the Knights answered right back and rebuilt their double-digit lead, 63-53, after Jenkins drained a three-pointer with 8:47 to play in regulation.
- With the Knights leading by four with under five to play, Powell helped ice the game with his first three-pointer of the campaign.
Inside the Box Score
- The Knights' three freshmen continue to contribute as tonight it was John Square Jr. who earned the start and responded with a career-high 11 points and five boards.
- Classmate Joe Munden Jr. also reached double figures with 10 points including a pair of three-pointers.
- With the win, Herenda improves to 11-5 all-time against CCSU.
- The Knights dished out 18 assists in the victory, their most since a win over Wagner back on February 13, 2020.
- With Williams and Powell leading the charge, the Burgundy and Blue corralled a season-high 41 rebounds to dominate to the tune of a +21 margin on the glass.
- The Burgundy and Blue shot 51.9 percent overall and hit 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) from long range, which are both season-best performances.
- After the Blue Devils shot 63.8 percent on Tuesday night, the Knights held them to 41.4 percent on Wednesday including 7-of-22 from three-point range.
- In addition to the aforementioned performances, Rush finished with 12 points and has now reached double figures in five of the team's six contests.
Up Next
The Knights hit the road for a two-game battle with Saint Francis U beginning next Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m.
