HACKENSACK, N.J. – Freshman forward P.O. Racine led the charge as the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team completed a two-game sweep of first-place Bryant with a 95-84 victory on Sunday inside the Rothman Center.
Racine scored 18 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to help the Knights (5-9, 4-4 NEC) extend their halftime lead and defeat the Bulldogs (10-5, 6-4 NEC) for the eighth time in a row. The freshman from Montreal's efficiency (9-of-12 FG) contributed to a 68-percent second-half shooting performance by the Burgundy and Blue.
Five Knights scored in double figures including
Jahlil Jenkins who finished with 18 points and
Elyjah Williams registered a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds to go along with seven assists.
Coach Herenda Postgame (Video)
How it Happened
- The Bulldogs made six of their first nine including a pair of three-pointers to take a 16-6 lead five minutes into play.
- After the deficit grew to 12, the Knights fought back with eight unanswered points and trailed by four at the under-12 media timeout.
- The Bulldogs rebuilt their lead to nine before the Knights stormed back again with a 10-2 run, which spanned only two minutes. A steal and three-pointer by Rush put the Burgundy and Blue on top 33-32 with 5:17 to play in the half.
- For the second day in a row, Jenkins sent the game into halftime in style as the senior guard banked home an off-balance three-pointer from the wing as the buzzer sounded.
- The Knights led 41-38 at the break with Jenkins' 12 points and Rush's 11 points leading the way.
- Both teams shot 50 percent in the opening stanza, while the Knights made 6-of-13 from deep and Bulldogs 5-of-11.
- A 10-1 run, which was capped by a Daniel Rodriguez layup, gave the Knights a 51-43 lead and forced a Bulldog timeout just under five minutes into the second stanza.
- Williams finished off a stylish fastbreak, which highlighted a 9-0 run by the Knights and led to their first double-digit lead, 66-54, with 9:40 to go.
- Racine took over from that point as the freshman scored eight points over the next three minutes to help the Knights maintain their cushion.
Inside the Box Score
- The Knights shot 57.9 percent overall and 68 percent in the second half.
- The 95 points are a season-high for the Knights along with the 22 made free throws.
- The Burgundy and Blue also held the high-scoring Bulldogs to just 31 percent in the second stanza.
- Racine's career-high point total came with an efficient 10-of-13 shooting effort in 28 minutes of action, while Williams hit all five of his field goals and 5-of-6 at the line in completing his second double-double of the season and seven of his career.
- Williams' 14 rebounds match his career-high which also came against Bryant back in 2018, while his seven assists are also a career-best output.
- Sophomore guard Brandon Rush chipped in 15 points, while classmate Callum Baker added 14 points and made 9-of-10 at the free throw line.
- Jenkins' halftime buzzer-beater on Sunday marked the third time in the last three games that he has closed the half with a bucket.
- Sophomore forward Daniel Rodriguez contributed eight rebounds as the Knights won the battle on the glass 42-34.
- Peter Kiss led all scorers with 24 points for the Bulldogs in the loss.
- Coach Herenda improved to 11-5 all-time against the Bulldogs as the Knights extended their win streak in the rivalry to eight.
Next Up
The Knights visit LIU for a pair of games next week beginning Thursday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Brooklyn.
