HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team was unable to protect a 10-point halftime lead as Mount St. Mary's rallied for a 74-61 win on Sunday afternoon at the Rothman Center.
Prior to tip-off the Knights honored their three seniors
Jahlil Jenkins,
Elyjah Williams and
Oscar Okeke. Jenkins paced the Knights (8-14, 7-9 NEC) with 13 points, while Williams scored 12 with four rebounds.
With the loss, the Knights' seven-game win streak over the Mount (9-10, 8-7 NEC) comes to an end. The Knights have now dropped five of their last six and enter the final week of action on the outside of the NEC Tournament field. Mezie Offurum and Damian Chong Qui each recorded a double-double for the Mountaineers, who after struggling mightily in the first half, shot 64 percent in the second half.
Coach Herenda Postgame (Video)
How it Happened
- The Knights established their first double-digit lead of the day, 16-6, on a gorgeous sequence that began with a glass-pinning block by Williams and ended with a spinning layup from Joe Munden Jr., just under eight minutes into play.
- After the Mount cut the lead down to five, the Knights rebuilt their double-digit, 28-16, cushion when Jenkins connected on a three-pointer from the wing with 5:01 to play in the half.
- With Jenkins' 10 points leading the way, the Knights carried a 32-22 lead into the break.
- The defense was the story in the first half for the Burgundy and Blue as they forced 11 turnovers and held the Mount to 0-for-7 from three-point range.
- With the Knights leading 40-31, the Mount used a 9-2 run to fight back, which trimmed the lead to two with 13 minutes to go. Offurum converted a three-point play to cap the run.
- Three minutes later, the Mount would take its first lead since the early going, 45-44, on a free throw by Malik Jefferson.
- The Knights endured a nearly four-minute scoreless drought before Brandon Rush ended it with a driving layup with 8:33 to go.
- The momentum continued for the Mount, who seconds later, established a seven-point lead, 53-46.
- The Knights' deficit grew to double-digits for the first time, 60-49, with 4:44 to go.
Inside the Box Score
- The 22 points allowed in the first half are the fewest by the Knights this season. Their previous low was 29 surrendered to LIU.
- Rush finished with nine points and seven rebounds, while Munden Jr. scored six with eight boards.
- Jenkins now ranks fourth all-time at FDU in scoring with 1,669 points, passing Jaime Latney.
- The Knights 33.3 percent overall, while the Mount made 52 percent.
- Although they were efficient at the line, connecting on 11-of-12 the Knights sent the Mount to the line for 26 tries.
- In addition, the Knights were out-rebounded 40-31 in the loss and after forcing 11 first-half turnovers, the Mount committed just two in the second half.
- Offurum led the charge for the Mount with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Chong Qui scored 14 with 11 boards.
- With a layup in the final minute, junior walk-on Sal Xheraj registered his first collegiate points as a Knight.
Next Up
The Knights close out the regular season on the road with a pair of games at Sacred Heart. First game is scheduled for Thursday, Feburary 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.
