LORETTO, Pa. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team rallied from 17 points down in the second half to earn a thrilling road victory in overtime, 94-92 over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday night at DeGol Arena.
Senior forward
Elyjah Williams returned to action following a two-game absence and delivered for the Burgundy and Blue. The Evanston, Ill. native poured in a career-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots in 41 minutes of action.
Williams' classmate
Jahlil Jenkins came up big in overtime for the Knights (3-8, 2-3 NEC), scoring nine of his 17 points in the extra frame, while freshman
Joe Munden Jr. registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Coach Herenda's Postgame (Video)
How it Happened
- After the Red Flash (3-9, 2-6 NEC) jumped out to a 14-4 lead, the Knights clawed back with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Williams.
- The Red Flash would hold the lead for the duration of the first half but the Knights entered the break trailing by four, 38-34.
- Williams and Jenkins accounted for 22 of the Knights' 38 first-half points, with 14 and eight, respectively.
- The Knights hit 4-of-10 from long range and shot 46.7 percent overall in the stanza, while the Red Flash made 45.2 percent from the field and featured four players with seven points.
- John Square Jr. scored the Knights' first bucket of the second half before the Red Flash immediately responded with 12 straight points and established a 50-36 lead with 17:20 to play in regulation.
- The home team's lead would balloon to 17 points, 53-36, before the Knights roared back and cut it to four after Callum Baker connected with a corner three-pointer with 14:23 to go.
- The Knights would pull even at 63-63 after Williams made a three-pointer with 10:19 remaining.
- Over the next seven minutes, the teams would exchange baskets until the Knights took their first lead of the contest when Munden Jr. made a free throw at the 2:22 mark.
- The teams each had chances in the final minute to take the lead but the game headed to overtime tied at 80.
- Jenkins scored Knights seven straight points for the Knights who took an 89-84 lead in the extra frame.
- The Red Flash had multiple chances to tie the game in overtime including a three-pointer with 23 seconds to go that was off the mark.
- With time on their side, the Knights were essentially able to seal the game at the free-throw line except for a last-second, desperation attempt for the Red Flash as time expired.
Inside the Box Score
- Five Knights scored in double figures including junior guard Brandon Powell with 11 points and the freshman forward Square Jr. who scored 10.
- The contest featured eight ties and five lead changes.
- Williams and Jenkins combined to make 6-of-7 from behind the arc as the Knights made a season-high 11 three-pointers in the win.
- With his five blocked shots tonight, Williams became the 10th Knight in history to reach 100 career blocks.
- Both teams shot 48.5 percent from the field but the Burgundy and Blue made 11-of-17 from three-point range compared to the Red Flash who were 6-of-20.
- Each team frequented the free-throw line as the Knights finished 17-of-27 and the Red Flash made 20-of-29.
- This was the Knights' first overtime victory since Feb. 2, 2019, when they defeated Robert Morris 97-94 in double OT.
- The Knights have now won four straight games over Saint Francis in Loretto.
- This was the Knights' first win this season when trailing at the half.
Up Next
These two teams square off again at DeGol Arena tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
