CHICAGO - The Tobin Anderson era of men's basketball at FDU began with an instant classic Monday as the Knights (0-1, 0-0 NEC) took Loyola Chicago to overtime in one of the highlights of college basketball's opening day, though it would be the home Ramblers that prevailed in 45 minutes, 88-82. The six-time Northeast Conference champions were paced by graduate student guard Demetre Roberts' team-best 22 points and senior Heru Bligen's 21. Bligen shined on the boards with 11 rebounds, logging the Burgundy and Blue's first double-double of the young season.
 

How It Happened

1st Half

• Scoreless through the first two minutes, the Ramblers would open the scoring on their fifth field goal attempt of the night while FDU's Roberts answered back with an early three in Chicagoland to put FDU ahead by a point.
• Following a series of clutch defensive plays led in part by fifth-year playmaker Grant Singleton, Anderson's Knights found themselves down just one at the first media timeout of the game.
• Down the stretch of the opening period the sides would trade jumpers and would come within three.
• FDU would out-shoot Loyola 83.3 percent to 71.4 percent from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes of action. Bligen would lead the Knights on the evening shooting 77.7 percent from the line.
• Sébastien Lamaute and Bligen each tallied a steal as the Knights would trail by just a bucket heading into the break, 41-39.

2nd Half

• Off an early fast break Roberts would even the game at 41 followed by a driving layup from Lamaute to put the Knights back on track.
• FDU would score 24 points in the paint and eight off second chances with FDU holding the lead for over six minutes in second half of play at Gentile Arena.
• The largest lead of the game for FDU would come with over eight minutes to go (4).
• FDU finished regulation with a 38-36 advantage over the Ramblers in the final 20.
• Roberts would add-on nine points in the second half.

Overtime

• Lamaute popped a triple, his third of the game, to get overtime headed up.
• With a little over three minutes left, Bligen tallied a steal and tried to cook up a play down the other end but Roberts would be stopped by the Loyola defense.
• Anderson's Knights would be held scoreless for the final 1:14 of the overtime period.

 

Quotable

"I thought we did a lot of great things," said Anderson after his first Division I game as a head coach. "We played really well, we out-toughed them. Loyola is an unbelievably tough, hard-nose team and for us to be able to come into their house and actually compete at the same level, if not higher, is something to be proud of."

On Anderson's three players from St. Thomas Aquinas who started tonight: "They're [Sean Moore, Roberts, Singleton] use to winning." They're going to compete all the time and they're used to doing things the right way. Meech was really good. Heru Bligen was fantastic. Cam Tweedy off the bench was really good. A lot of contributions and this is the first team; we have a long ways to go still."
 

Looking Ahead

FDU hits the hardwood at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center for the first time this season on Wednesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. when the Burgundy and Blue welcome Mercy (N.Y.) live on NEC Front Row. Tickets are on-sale now at FDUKnights.com/Tickets.

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