HACKENSACK, N.J. – Senior forward
Elyjah Williams amassed a 27-point, 13-rebound double-double but the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team fell to Wagner 95-86 on Saturday night at the Rothman Center.
The Knights (7-11, 6-6 NEC), who led 45-42 at halftime, matched their program record with 16 three-pointers – a record they set in last season's meeting with the Seahawks (6-5, 6-4 NEC) in Hackensack – but it was not enough as the visitors shot 55.6 percent overall and scored 54 points in the paint to come away with the victory.
Four Knights scored in double figures, led by Williams, who logged his third double-double of the season and made 11-of-18 from the field including a career-high 4-of-5 from three-point range. Freshman guard
Joe Munden Jr. and junior guard
Brandon Powell finished with 14 points apiece in the loss.
Coach Herenda Postgame (Video)
How it Happened
- Eight minutes into action, the Knights trailed 22-14 before Powell drained a three-pointer from the wing.
- Munden delivered a highlight-reel jam and a pair of three-pointers as the Knights cut the deficit to two, 27-25 with under 10 to play in the half.
- The Knights would take their first lead of the contest when Williams finished off a fast-break slam, 34-33, with 5:26 to go in the opening stanza.
- With Powell's three-point prowess (4-for-5) leading the charge, the Knights carried a 45-42 lead into the break.
- Powell scored 12 points in the half as the Knights hit 8-of-13 from behind the arc.
- A 3:25 scoreless drought midway through the second half by the Knights allowed the Seahawks to build a nine-point lead, 68-59 with nine minutes remaining.
- After sophomore guard Callum Baker ended the cold stretch with a three-pointer the Seahawks responded with back-to-back three-pointers and established their first double-digit lead of the night, 74-62 with 6:51 to go.
- The Seahawks kept rolling and extended their run to 16-3 as the Knights struggled to make shots and the deficit grew to 15, 77-62, with 5:32 remaining.
- The Knights fought valiantly down the stretch and cut the Seahawks' lead down to seven in the final minute but ultimately ran out of time.
Inside the Box Score
- Williams, who entered the night ranked 18th in the nation in field goal percentage, continued his efficiency with a 11-for-18 performance and now sits at 60.1 percent on the season.
- The Knights' 16 three-pointers against Wagner comes on the one-year anniversary of the game last season in Hackensack where they initially set the mark against the Seahawks.
- In addition, the 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) effort from behind the arc is the Knights' most accurate performance since February 2018 against Mount St. Mary's (7-of-11).
- Senior guard Jahlil Jenkins dished out a career-high 11 assists to go along with six points and three steals in the loss.
- True to form, the NEC's leading offensive rebounding team Wagner, corralled 12 offensive boards and won the battle on the glass 41-28.
- Three Seahawks finished with 20 or more points, led by Alex Morales who scored 23 with seven rebounds and six assists.
- Williams is now just 11 points from becoming the 31st Knight to amass 1,000 career points.
- The Knights trotted out their ninth different starting lineup this season.
- Head Coach Greg Herenda remains at 99 wins at FDU.
Next Up
The Knights continue their homestand with a two-game series against St. Francis Brooklyn beginning this Tuesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
