FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Following a 15-day layoff since last competing (12/31/21 at Saint Francis U [Pa.]), the Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball team (1-10, 2-2 NEC) hits the road to Connecticut as the Knights get set to face Sacred Heart (5-10, 1-3 NEC) at the William H. Pitt Center on Saturday, January 15, at 2 p.m. live on NEC Front Row. The contest between the two Tri-State Area rivals comes 22 years to the day since the inaugural meeting pitting the Knights against the Pioneers.

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. Following the cancellations against Merrimack (January 6) and Bryant (January 8), FDU was assigned a loss in the NEC standings for each contest. The forfeits do not impact the Knights' overall record.

Game Info 
FDU (1-10, 2-2 NEC) at Sacred Heart (5-10, 1-3 NEC)
Saturday, January 15, at 2:00 p.m. -- William H. Pitt Center (Fairfield, Conn.)
Coverage: NEC Front Row | Live Stats
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsMBB

Media Game Notes
FDU | SHU | NEC Weekly Release

All-Time Series
FDU trails 23-15
First Meeting...FDU 67, Sacred Heart 48 (1/15/2000)
Last Meeting...Sacred Heart 70, FDU 64 (2/26/2021)
 
Scouting the Pioneers
Sacred Heart's previous two NEC contests were cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Pioneers program. Like the Knights, the Pioneers last played on New Year's Eve, falling to Bryant by just three points in an 85-82 tilt in Smithfield, R.I. Four Pioneers contributed double figures, including a 20-point effort from senior Aaron Clarke and a double-double of 18 points, 16 rebounds from sophomore Nico Galette. Senior Cantavio Dutreil added a career-high 16 points followed by Tyler Thomas with 15 and a career-best seven assists. Coming out of the locker room, Dutreil immediately gave the Pioneers a spark as he netted the first six points of a 10-0 run to erase the double-digit deficit and pull SHU within two. The two teams battled for the remainder of the half, but the Pioneers were unable to grab the advantage. In the final four minutes of the game, neither team was able to hit a field goal as they each went four-for-four from the line.

More on the Pioneers
 
Scouting the Knights
Following a 13-day layoff since last competing (12/18/21 at Virginia), the Knights paid the Red Flash a visit in Loretto, Pa. looking to close-out 2021 with a win and build on their 1-0 start in NEC play this season. FDU controlled the game from the opening tip with the Knights up 34-23 at the break. Junior guard Brandon Rush and sophomore guard Sébastien Lamaute each posted a team-leading eight points at the break. Lamaute also added nine rebounds in the opening period. Lamaute would finish the contest with a Knights single-game season high 15 rebounds and 14 points, good for his first career double-double and enough to earn the newcomer NEC Rookie of the Week, as announced by the conference on January 3. In the second half, the Knights' lead grew to as many as 19 points early in the second half (46-27) before the home Red Flash closed the gap, however SFU would only tie the contest once and did not lead. Rush finished the contest with 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting, his fourth-consecutive game played with double-digit points. The Warrensville, Ohio native would also contribute four rebounds, two assists and one steal. With the win against Saint Francis U (Pa.), the Knights move to 2-0 in NEC play for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

Full Saint Francis U (Pa.) Recap
Lamatue Rookie of the Week Release

What's Next
Greg Herenda's Knights pay first-place Wagner a visit on Monday, January 17, as part of the NEC's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day showcase with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Spiro Sports Center on Staten Island, N.Y. live on NEC Front Row. Click here to view the Seahawks' spectator policy and purchase tickets for the game.

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.