HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU men's basketball (12-8, 5-0) went on the road and defeated Stonehill (7-13, 3-3) 65-57 to claim sole possession of first place in the Northeastern Conference. The Knights were resilient in their second road game in three days, holding Stonehill's leading scorer Andrew Sims to six points on 3-11 shooting from the field in a fantastic defensive effort. Graduate student Demetre Roberts led the way for FDU with a game-high 21 points.  
 

How It Happened

First Half

• It was a defensive battle early until Grant Singleton gave FDU an early lead with three consecutive three-pointers giving the Knights a seven point lead
• Singleton then extended the lead to 10, the largest for FDU in the half with a layup
• Stonehill would battle back with 5:15 left in the half, the Skyhawks went on a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to one before Singleton hit again from beyond the arc to reclaim a four point lead

Second Half

• Stonehill tied the game at 32 with 16:35 to play thanks to one of their five second half three pointers
• However, FDU would answer time and again. This time it was Roberts delivering with a three of his own to give FDU the lead again and the visitors would not look back
• FDU was up three with 14 minutes left when Joe Munden Jr. stepped up and went on a personal 6-0 run of his own drilling two long range daggers to extend the FDU lead to nine
• The defensive effort by the Burgundy and Blue caused 15 Skyhawks turnovers and kept Stonehill out of rhythm the whole half
• The Knights were clinging to a three point lead with 2:30 remaining in the game when Sean Moore drove baseline and found a streaking Roberts in the paint for the layup giving FDU a two possession lead and some breathing room. It would be the final field goal for the Knights as they iced the game away at the free throw line. Roberts went 7-8 from the charity stripe in the final minutes of the contest  

Quotable

"I thought it was our best defensive effort, great job by the entire group," said head coach Tobin Anderson following the game. "Stonehill is an excellent defensive team and really made us work! We showed some resilience and toughness down the stretch."
 

Inside the Box Score

• FDU won the hustle stats getting nine offensive rebounds to just three for Stonehill
• Stonehill turned the ball over 15 times against the FDU pressure
• The Burgundy and Blue had three players in double figures Roberts (21), Singleton (18), and Munden Jr. (13)
• FDU held Stonehill leading scorer Andrew Sims to six points. Sims entered the contest averaging 15 PPG

Up Next

With the win, FDU has now tied the second-best start to NEC play in program history having won each of their first five NEC contests with the next three set to be played at home beginning with a matchup against Sacred Heart on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. 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.