HACKENSACK, N.J. - Winning each of their first two games, FDU men's basketball (2-0, 0-0 NEC) heads south on the Garden State Parkway to face BIG EAST in-state foe Seton Hall (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) on Saturday, November 11 at 4 p.m. The 25th all-time meeting between the two North Jersey schools, Saturday's matchup in South Orange, N.J. will take place on the Pirates' campus at Walsh Gymnasium. The game will air live on FS2. FDU last faced Seton Hall on November 10, 2021.
 

About FDU

After sinking a program-record 19 three-pointers against Penn State Brandywine on Wednesday, Nov. 8, FDU sits 2-0 for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The Knights were off to a 27-point halftime lead, their second of the young campaign, largely thanks to junior forward Ansley Almonor's (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph's Regional [Mont.]) 16 first half points. Almonor, the reigning Most Improved Player in the Northeast Conference, would finish with 24 points, one shy of his career-high. FDU's hot hands continued late into the second half as the Burgundy and Blue sunk 57.6 percent of their tries (19-for-33) in the final 20 minutes of the game. 

The hero from FDU's season opener at Buffalo (Nov. 6) Jo'el Emanuel finished his outing with 13 points and was perfect from the free throw line. All available Knights played in Wednesday's tilt with Davin Francis, Tyler Jamison and Thomas Sutter Jr. making their FDU debuts.

Fifth-year guard Sébastien Lamaute came off the bench late and exploded for a near double-double, posting 10 points and eight rebounds in eight minutes on the floor.

FDU players combined for 25 assists on the night with only 11 turnovers over the 40-minute bout.
 

About the Opponent

Seton Hall plays on campus for the first time this season after opening against Saint Peter's, FDU's next opponent, at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Edging out a late 70-59 victory, Seton Hall was down one at the break and held on for the 11-point finish in a season lid-lifter that featured 17 lead changes. The Pirates were paced by senior Kadary Richmond who filled up the box score with 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Three Pirate seniors (Dylan Addae-Wusu, Al-Amir Dawes and Dre Davis) stuffed the stat sheet to score 31 of Seton Hall's 44 second half points.
 

About the Series

Saturday's game is the 25th all-time meeting between FDU and The Hall. The Pirates hold a 20-4 record against the Knights. FDU is 1-4 against Seton Hall in the last five meetings, defeating the Pirates in a 58-54 result on Dec. 1, 2013. FDU last played in Walsh Gymnasium coming off an NCAA tournament appearance in 2016 - seven years to the day from Saturday's battle (11/11/16). Per Seton Hall athletic communications, FDU's 2016 squad was the last team to enter Walsh Gymnasium coming off a March Madness berth; the 2023 Knights take claim to that again. The Knights are the first team to visit Walsh Gym coming off a win in the NCAA tournament since the 1984-85 Syracuse Orange.
 

What a Win Would Mean

• FDU would start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2002-03
• Defeat Seton Hall for the fifth time ever - 10 years after last defeating the Pirates
• Be the first regular season non-conference opponent to defeat Seton Hall at Walsh Gymnasium since 1989 (Seton Hall has won 28-straight Walsh Gym non-conference games in that stretch)
• Record the 991st win in program history

 

Headlines

• Ansley Almonor, Sébastien Lamaute and Joe Munden Jr. are the three Knights who participated in the last meeting on 11/10/21 (93-49 SHU win). FDU has not played at Walsh since 11/11/2016 - seven years to the day from Saturday's game.
• FDU was the first NEC team to two victories on the season... All teams in the nine-member league have played at least one game... FDU was the only NEC member to notch an opening night win against a Division I opponent.
• FOX Sports' John Fanta, calling Saturday's game alongside Jim Spanarkel, was the college roommate of FDU assistant coach Tom Kiely at Seton Hall. Kiely served as the Pirates' head men's basketball manager.

 

What's Next

After Saturday's game, FDU prepares for the Battle of Bracket Busters between the Knights and the Saint Peter's Peacocks - two North Jersey NCAA tournament Cinderella teams. FDU and Saint Peter's both defeated Purdue during their respective March Madness runs. Taking place inside Stratis Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Battle of Bracket Busters will air live on YES Network and the YES App, the first-ever home non-conference game for FDU to air on linear TV. Tickets are on-sale now at FDUKnights.com/Tickets.

Connect with FDU men's basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMBB.

Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU men's basketball season.