HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU men's basketball recorded its second-consecutive victory Sunday as the Knights toppled Manhattan at Stratis Arena in Hackensack. Led by sophomore guard Ansley Almonor's 22 points, the Burgundy and Blue edged out a three-point win over the Jaspers to record back-to-back home wins. With the final score being 77-74, each of the last three matchups against Manhattan (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) have been decided by five or fewer points dating to 2006.

Despite allowing the lid-lifitng bucket to come from the road side, FDU came back for a 12-7 run for just under five minutes to avenge the early 2-0 deficit. Almonor contributed five points during the stretch as the Spring Valley, N.Y. native led all scorers and posted a game-best three blocks. Almonor's 22 points set a new career best, in addition to his blocks. The six-foot-six forward shot 57 percent from the field and buried three triples in seven tries, matches graduate student Demetre Roberts' mark.

Neither side would fully break away in the matchup with FDU's largest lead coming at eight points five minutes into the first half, while Manhattan would hold the edge in the second half by six points before the Knights pulled away.

The win marked Tobin Anderson's first head coaching victory at FDU against a Division I opponent which was celebrated in the locker room pregame with a water bottle shower. After drying off the Knights return to action to begin an eight-game road swing with the Longwood MTE first up as the Knights battle in three games over three days in Farmville, Va. beginning with SIUE on Friday, November 18.

The 2022-23 men's basketball season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.