LORETTO, Pa. - With their previous two contests cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols, the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team (0-10, 1-0 NEC) takes the hardwood for the first time in 13 days when the Knights travel to Saint Francis U (Pa.) (4-8, 0-1 NEC) on Friday, December 31, at 4 p.m. live on NEC Front Row. FDU received a win in the conference standings following Mount St. Mary's COVID-19 related forfeit on December 29 giving the Knights a 1-0 start in NEC play. The forfeit does not impact the Knights' overall record.

Game Info 
FDU (0-10, 1-0 NEC) at Saint Francis U (Pa.) (4-8, 0-1 NEC)
Friday, December 31, at 4:00 p.m. -- DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
Coverage: NEC Front Row | Live Stats
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsMBB

Media Game Notes
FDU | SFU | NEC Weekly Release

All-Time Series
FDU leads 49-48
First Meeting...Saint Francis U (Pa.) 75, FDU 62 (1/12/1955)
Last Meeting...Saint Francis U (Pa.) 90, FDU 82 (1/27/2021)
 
Scouting the Red Flash
Saint Francis U (Pa.) fell to Wagner 72-64 on Wednesday, December 29, in the conference opener for both teams at DeGol Arena in Loretto, Pa. Forward Marlon Hargis scored eight points in the first five minutes and 10 seconds to stake the Loretto program out to a 16-6 lead. The squad would maintain a 10-point lead after a Giles basket at 13:58 (18-8) and again the sophomore restored a double-double lead at 12:35 (20-10) in the first half. Wagner closed the final 3:41 of the first half on an 11-4 run and started the second half with a 17-5 run to take the lead for good after trailing for most of the first half. The Seahawks trailed by as many as 10 three times in the first half, but used the run to go into the locker room with a 31-30 edge and then grabbed a 48-35 advantage six minutes and 31 seconds into the final frame.

More on the Red Flash
 
Scouting the Knights
Hitting the road for the final time in non-conference action, the Knights set out to Charlottesville, Va. to face the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday, December 18. Falling 82-49, the Burgundy and Blue were led by junior co-captain Devon Dunn's 16 points in 27 minutes of action at John Paul Jones Arena. Dunn earned the start after missing the prior two games. Despite keeping it close early on with the score tied just once on either side after play began, Virginia would pull away taking a 34-19 lead at the break before tacking on 48 points in the second, compared to FDU's 30. Three Knights each recorded four rebounds in Pier-Olivier Racine, Daniel Rodriguez and John Square Jr. As a team Herenda's Knights shot .818 (9-for-11) from the charity stripe with all 11 free throw at- tempts coming in the second half. "As far as the game is concerned, I though we competed well and hung for a while but then one man took the game over," remarked Herenda. "Jasen Gardner literally looked like he had a cape on today. He was unstoppable on all levels all day and really set the time midway during the first half." FDU's game scheduled for December 22 vs. Saint Peter's to close non-league play was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols.

Full Virginia Recap

Coach Herenda's Thoughts
"We are excited to begin our journey into our NEC schedule. Saint Francis is a very talented team and well coached. Winning road games in this conference is hard and going out to Loretto is always really difficult, but we are excited for the challenge."

What's Next
Herenda's Knights return home in the new year with a nationally-televised matchup with his alma mater Merrimack on Thursday, January 6, at 7 p.m. live from Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center on ESPN3 and SNY. Tickets are on-sale now at FDUKnights.com/Tickets. Click here for the Knights' updated indoor spectator policy.

Fans can stay connected with FDU men's basketball on Instagram and Twitter, @FDUKnightsMBB.

The 2021-22 men's basketball season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.