HACKENSACK, N.J. - With 15 points coming out of the halftime break, the FDU men's basketball team (7-8, 1-0 NEC) fought their way back to defeat Merrimack (1-13, 0-1 NEC) for the first time in program history Thursday 71-63 at Stratis Arena to give the Knights a 1-0 start to Northeast Conference play.

The win against Merrimack also marks the 25th time in 42 NEC seasons that the Burgundy and Blue began league play with a win, the second-consecutive.

Down six at the break FDU couldn't hit their stride with Tobin Anderson's team held to just two three-point field goals on eight tries (25 percent). Sophomore big Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, N.Y.) had himself a career night with 25 points to right the ship shooting 7-for-13 and 9-for-9 from the free throw line.

Free throws would be clutch for the Knights with FDU making the most of their 18 attempts, sinking all but seven. Before bowing out with five personal fouls late in the second half, Almonor would contribute nine rebounds and two blocks in 31 minutes. His heroics were coupled by graduate student guard Grant Singleton who returned from injury in grand fashion with 13 points and a trio of blazing three-pointers while dishing out five dimes.

Coming off the bench, Brayden Reynolds - the freshman from Pittsburgh, Pa. - made his presence known in 19 minutes with perfect shooting from the field (3-for-3) and a pair of free throws for a career-best eight points.

"It was good win to get the conference schedule started," said Anderson after his first NEC game. "I thought that was one of our best defensive efforts, especially in the second half. Ansley and G [Singleton] made plays and Brayden [Reynolds] was terrific off the bench."

Back home on Saturday, Dec. 31 to ring in the New Year and close-out non-conference play, FDU welcomes Centenary at noon on NEC Front Row before heading to St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday, Jan. 5 for a 1 p.m. tilt with the Terriers as NEC play continues.

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