HACKENSACK, N.J. – A second-half offensive surge was the difference as the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team topped Robert Morris 75-70 on Sunday afternoon inside the Rothman Center and completed the season sweep.
After scoring just 24 points in the opening stanza, the Knights (9-18, 7-9 NEC) scored 51 second-half points to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and knock off the Colonials (16-14, 12-5 NEC) for the second time this season.
With the win, the Knights officially punched their ticket to the Northeast Conference Tournament. The Burgundy and Blue currently hold the sixth spot in the NEC standings by way of a tiebreaker with Mount St. Mary's, who is also 7-9. With Merrimack ineligible for postseason play, the sixth spot equates to the No. 5 seed in this season's NEC Tournament.
"That game was all about team and character and playing without our senior captain
Kaleb Bishop, everyone stepped up today," remarked
Greg Herenda after his team's win. "We just had two very difficult losses but today we responded in a big way and beat a very good Robert Morris club again."
Junior guard
Jahlil Jenkins scored 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, while adding five assists, three rebounds and two steals to his ledger in the victory. Junior forward
Elyjah Williams contributed 17 points with seven boards, while sophomore
Brandon Powell and redshirt junior
Xzavier Malone-Key finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively and each hit 6-of-9 from the field. Powell drained 3-of-4 from three-point range and grabbed six rebounds in the contest.
The Burgundy and Blue hit 56 percent overall and 9-of-20 from behind the arc in the win, including 7-of-13 second-half three-pointers.
"I just have to say that
Elyjah Williams took that game into his own hands early and led our team with Jahlil and Brandon by his side," Herenda concluded. "Our guys rose to the occasion today in front of a great crowd in a big spot. That was fun."
Dante Treacy paced the Colonials with a game-high 23 points and made 5-of-7 from three-point range as the visitors made 44.3 percent overall and 10-of-27 (37 percent) from behind the arc.
A 12-2 run, which spanned three minutes allowed the Colonials to nab a 28-22 with under four to play in the half. Treacy capped the run with a three-pointer from the wing before Jenkins hit a floater for the Knights.
The Knights endured a scoring drought, notching only two points the rest of the way and trailed 34-24 heading into the break. Williams scored nine to lead the Knights at the break.
A 12-2 run over the first nine minutes of the second half would put the Knights in front 48-44 with 11:00 to go. Jenkins first gave the Knights a lead with a pair of free throws before freshman guard
Brandon Rush capped the run with a corner three-pointer.
Jenkins would extend the Knights' lead to double-digits, 59-49, for the first time by draining a three with 6:46 to play in regulation. The Burgundy and Blue saw their lead dwindle down to two points, 69-67, after Josh Williams converted a layup for the Colonials with 55 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing possession, with 18 ticks to go, Malone-Key drove to the rim and contorted his body around the defense to convert the biggest shot of the day. Jenkins would seal the win by draining four straight free throws.
The Knights host Bryant next Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. before heading on the road to Mount St. Mary's for the regular season finale on February 29. Prior to tip-off on Thursday, the Knights will honor senior
Kaleb Bishop and graduate student
Collin McManus.
