CHARLOTTE, N.C. – FDU men's basketball battled back from down 23 but the Knights' comeback effort fell short as the Burgundy and Blue fell to Queens 97-84 Wednesday at Curry Arena.
Unable to settle down in the infant minutes of the game, the Knights out-scored the home Royals 29-25 in the final 10 minutes of the first half, overcoming a 23-point deficit to battle back to within 13 at the break.
Junior forward
Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) was the lone Knight in double figures in the first 20 minutes, knocking down a pair of triples in a 12-point first half.
The story of the opening period was Queens' 21 made field goals with 14 points on the fast break.
The Royals' 56 first half points were the most of any team against FDU this season.
Senior forward
Sean Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) exploded coming out of the halftime break for FDU, finishing his night on 7-of-8 shooting for a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double as a Knight. The mark was FDU's first double-double since
Jo'el Emanuel (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) logged one at Buffalo (Nov. 6).
FDU's halftime adjustments paid dividends as the Knights had a spark on the defensive end to hold the home Royals to just three second half triples, half the amount of the first 20 minutes.
"
Sean Moore was incredible tonight," said head coach
Jack Castleberry. "He did a lot of really good things; it was great to have him playing at that pace. He's been playing better and better as we've gotten through the season up to this point. We played hard. You got to have urgency from the get-go. We didn't quite execute and our execution of the scouting report is something we need to get better at. It's a learning experience and we'll certainly get better - and be better - for that."
After a traveling Thanksgiving Day, FDU men's basketball prepares for two games to close-out Feast Week in Moon Township, Pa. just outside of Pittsburgh as the Knights take part in the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic hosted by Robert Morris. FDU faces Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 25 and the host Colonials on Sunday, Nov. 26. Both games will air on ESPN+.
The Knights return home on Monday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. ET against Columbia live on NEC Front Row. Tickets are on-sale now at
FDUKnights.com/Tickets.
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Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU men's basketball season.
- FDU out-scored the Royals 29-25 in the final 10 minutes of the first half
- Sean Moore's double-double is the third of his career... first at FDU
- The Knights are now 0-2 against Queens (N.C.)
