HACKENSACK, N.J. – In a see-saw matchup that featured 11 lead changes, the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell 86-81 to Long Island University at Stratis Arena on Friday night.
 
After the lead changed hands eight times in the second half, the Knights led by one with 2:35 to go before a layup by Raiquan Clark put the Sharks (13-15, 8-7 NEC) on top for good.

Trailing by one with under 40 ticks remaining, Julian Batts hit the biggest shot of the game, a shot-clock beating three-pointer, which gave the Sharks an 84-80 lead with 15 seconds on the clock.

"That was a difficult way to end the game tonight," said Greg Herenda following the loss. "We thought we had a big stop and rebound and a chance to take the lead but instead Batts eventually made a tough 3 late in the 30-second clock. That was the decisive play of the game."
 
Junior guard Jahlil Jenkins paced the Knights (8-18, 6-9 NEC) with 25 points, six assists and five rebounds, while senior forward Kaleb Bishop contributed 18 points and nine boards in the loss. Junior forward Elyjah Williams recorded his third double-double of the season with a full statline of 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
 
After a slow start offensively, the Knights rebounded to shoot 43.5 percent overall thanks to a 51 percent second-half clip. Four Sharks scored in double figures led by Jermaine Jackson Jr's 21 points. Ty Flowers scored 20 with 14 rebounds and Raiquan Clark added 20 points with seven rebounds as the team shot 44 percent overall and 12-of-27 from three-point range.
 
The Knights out-rebounded the Sharks 43-39 but were hampered by a 13-of-20 (65 percent) performance at the free throw line.

"Now, there is a log jam in the middle of our conference and we have to somehow separate ourselves," Herenda continued. "This conference, at this time of year, is one of the best kept secrets in the country. I have been in the Big East, Conference USA, the MAAC, the Ivy League -- you name it, but this conference is as competitive as it gets."

A layup by Williams provided the Knights with their only double-digit lead of the contest, 15-5, just under six minutes into play. The 10-point cushion would serve as the Burgundy and Blue's largest of the game because the Sharks chipped away and eventually used an 11-0 run to take a 32-27 lead with 2:30 to play in the half.
 
When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Knights found themselves trailing 37-35. Williams led the way with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jenkins scored 10 with four assists.
 
As a team, the Knights shot 36 percent overall and hit 5-of-14 from deep, while the Sharks made 43 percent overall and 6-of-11 from behind the arc. Jackson topped all scorers at the break with 13 points, with four assists and three rebounds but the Sharks made just 3-of-10 first-half free throws.
 
A 12-0 run early in the second half, highlighted by a three-point play by Bishop, put the Knights back on top 48-40 at the first media timeout. After a slow start, Bishop connected on seven of his first eight to begin the second stanza.
 
The Sharks would respond with a run of their own, scoring 11 straight points and regaining the lead 59-57 on a three-pointer by Jackson with 10 minutes to play.
 
The lead would change hands four more times over the next five minutes before the Knights moved in front on a trey by Jenkins with 5:47 to play. A minute later, the Sharks went back on top with a three-point play by Batts before Xzavier Malone-Key answered with his own to tie the game at 74.
 
Clark's aforementioned layup with 2:31 to go put the Sharks on top for good as they held off the Knights and completed the season series sweep.
 
The Knights return to action this Sunday, February 23 when they host Robert Morris at 3:30 p.m.