MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - After a Thanksgiving dinner at sophomore forward Brayden Reynolds' home in Pittsburgh, Pa., FDU men's basketball embarks on the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic hosted by Northeast Conference founding member Robert Morris. FDU will face Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. ET and close the weekend with the Colonials of Robert Morris on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Both games will take place at the UPMC Events Center and air live on ESPN+.
 

About FDU

In the Knights' second setback of the season at Queens (N.C.) on Nov. 22, senior forward Sean Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) shined as the STAC transfer poured in 21 points and collected 10 caroms in his first FDU double-double (third collegiate career). One of three Knights who scored double-figures, Moore finished his outing 8-of-10 from the field with a triple, two assists and a steal. His 21 points against the Royals set a new career best.

FDU had won back-to-back games ahead of the Queens matchup. The Knights rank 36th in Division I in assists per game and in the top third in assist-to-turnover ratio.

About Jacksonville

Jacksonville opens the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic on Nov. 24, facing Robert Morris in the first game of the multiple-team event. The Dolphins (2-2, 0-0 ASUN) started their week in Pittsburgh with a 107-56 loss at Pitt on Nov. 17. Marcus Niblack was a bright spot in what was an otherwise tough night for the Dolphins (2-2) as they played ACC foe Pittsburgh. The senior transfer put up a team-high and season-high 22 points on 67 percent shooting from the floor. Niblack also recorded four boards, which is also a season-high.

Jacksonville's bench accounted for 41 of their 56 points.
 

About Robert Morris

The Colonials (1-3) are coming off a 78-68 loss at Wisconsin on Nov. 17. Justice Williams leads RMU with 16.0 points per game. Markeese Hastings is RMU's leading rebounder with 9.8 per game. The Colonials won their only home game this season, 66-56, over Point Park.
 

About the Series

• FDU-Jacksonville
  • Saturday's meeting will be just the third all-time tilt between FDU and Jacksonville. The series began on 12/23/78 and the two sides have met just once since then (1/29/90)... The Dolphins lead the series, 2-0.
• FDU-Robert Morris
  • On Sunday, FDU and Robert Morris will battle for the first time as non-conference opponents... RMU was a founding member of the Northeast Conference and department the NEC after the 2020 season. The Knights and Colonials have competed 82 times with RMU holding the all-time series, 46-36. FDU has won each of the last two meetings, including the first at the UPMC Events Center.

 

What a Win Would Mean

• A win over the Dolphins would...
  • Be the first for FDU in series history... the just the second against current ASUN members (1-9)... first neural site win this season.
• A win over the Colonials would...
  • Be the first for FDU as a non-conference win... 37th all-time victory... second in the UPMC Events Center (out of two opportunities)... fifth-straight over RMU

 

Headlines

• FDU assistant coach Kevin Zabo was previously on-staff at Jacksonville as the Dolphins' Director of Player Development.
• The Knights are fourth in the country in adjusted tempo per KenPom.com with a mark of 75.3 (D-I average is 69.1). FDU's average offensive possession length of 14.3 is sixth in Division I.
• FDU ranks 36th in Division I in assists per game and in the top third in assist-to-turnover ratio.

What's Next

Upon return from Moon Township, Pa., FDU's road trip continues with a visit to Fordham on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET on SNY and ESPN+.

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.