HACKENSACK, N.J. - Following a season-opening win at Buffalo on Monday, Nov. 6, 92-86, FDU men's basketball (1-0, 0-0 NEC) plays host to Penn State Brandywine in the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Nittany Lions on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Wednesday's home opener will air live on NEC Front Row and the NEC on the Run app. Fans should arrive early to collect their 2023-24 FDU Knights basketball court rally towel to be distributed at the venue entrance.
 

About FDU

FDU was up 10 at the half and didn't look back as the Knights picked up the 30th lid-lifting victory in program history. Sophomore forward Jo'el Emanuel had himself a career outing as the second-year Knight posted his first career double-double, finishing with a new career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds. Emanuel doubled his previous career best in points in under 18 minutes of play in the first half as the Suffern, N.Y. product posted 18 points in the opening period.

"Jo'el [Emanuel] is one of a bunch of guys we have who, this summer, worked their butts off," said head coach Jack Castleberry speaking of Emanuel's work ethic following the game. "He's obviously a freak athlete and is unbelievably coachable - and wants to be better. He's made huge strides in this game and the sky's the limit for that kid."

Senior guard Joe Munden Jr., making his 75th appearance for the Knights, posted 13 second half points to pace FDU's lead protection in the final 20 minutes. Munden would finish with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

The Knights did gritty work down low in Castleberry's head coaching debut with 40 points in the paint, while the bench contribute eight points. 15 FDU points came off turnovers in the first 20 minutes as the Burgundy and Blue led by as many as 12 in the first.

First-year head coach Jack Castleberry, in his second season on-staff at FDU, tallied his first career victory Monday night. With the win, Castleberry became the fourth FDU men's basketball head coach to win their Burgundy and Blue debut.
 

About the Opponent

Like FDU, the Nittany Lions have a first-year leader in their head coach Nick Burke. PSU Brandywine finished their season 19-8 and claimed the top seed seed in the PSUAC tournament. The Lions' 11 returners have combined to play 527 games in a Brandywine uniform since the beginning of the 2019-20 season. This is their second-ever game against an NCAA Division I opponent having battled Penn on Nov. 18, 2017, falling 99-40. Located in Media, Pa., Brandywine recently had their application approved for an exploratory year in NCAA Division III as the Nittany Lions look to join the Association after their provisional period.
 

About the Series

This is the first meeting between FDU and Penn State Brandywine. FDU has played at least one non-Division I institution in three of the last five seasons heading to Wednesday's game, the first of two this season.
 

What a Win Would Mean

• FDU would start 2-0 for the first time since 2014 when the Knights won at Saint Joseph's (11/14, 58-57) and at home against FDU-Florham (11/17, 102-61)
• Be the 44th win for FDU this decade

Headlines

• Monday's win over Buffalo marked the 30th season-opening win for FDU
• FDU's 92 points were the most in a season opener against a Division I opponent since the Knights played Drexel on 11/17/00, winning 97-87 in overtime
• Emanuel was one just 14 players in Division I to score 24 points on opening night (11/6/23)... Emanuel was joined by Sacred Heart's Nico Galette as the only two NEC players to score 24

What's Next

The Knights travel 21 miles on the Garden State Parkway to Seton Hall on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the 25th all-time meeting with the Pirates at 4 p.m. with the game, taking place on-campus at Walsh Gymnasium, airing on FS2.

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.