NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Graduate student guard Grant Singleton hit threes from almost everywhere on the court as the Knights heated-up for 52 second half points, powering the first place FDU men's basketball team to a 78-71 win at Merrimack on Saturday. Expanding on their half-game lead in the nine-team conference, Tobin Anderson's team improves to 14-10 on the season with a 7-2 mark in league play at the halfway point.

Off to a rocky start in the opening half, FDU placed just two of their eight three-point field goal attempts while recording 13 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play. At the half, the Knights were down 10 battling back from the Warriors' high advantage of 12 which dwindled down as time went on. Offensive rebounds were critical to the Knights' attack and the Burgundy and Blue got the job done, crashing the glass 9-2 - a seven-board margin.

Coming out of the break, FDU logged seven points in the first three minutes with Joe Munden Jr. leading the charge with five points in the stretch while Singeton contributed a pair himself. Things would change as the Warriors lead evaporated for the first time in the game - the second meeting between the two sides this season - with freshman Jo'el Emanuel evening the score at 49 with 11:57 to go as FDU mounted their comeback.

Looking for their first series sweep over an NEC opponent since 2021, the Knights would heat from the field, and the free throw line, with FDU notching eight three-pointers in the second half and nearly going perfect at the foul line (8-for-10). In the first half, FDU converted just two of eight attempts.

Three-point defense kicked into gear for FDU in the final 20 minutes with Merrimack held to 28.6 percent shooting from distance in the period.

The win for FDU marks their first at Hammel Court since Merrimack joined the NEC in 2019.

With 27 points, Singleton matched his career-high of 27 and now boasts 1,466 career points (five seasons).

Returning home after the trip up north, FDU welcomes Wagner on Saturday, February 4 at 1 p.m. as part of Alumni Day and Hall of Fame Weekend.

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