NEWARK, N.J. - Looking to snap a four-game skid, FDU men's basketball returns to action for the second time in three days when the Knights (4-5, 0-0 NEC) visit NJIT (1-5, 0-0 NEC) on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN+ from the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center. The matchup against the Highlanders will be FDU's first game in the Garden State since FDU hosted Penn State Schuylkill on Nov. 18.
 

About FDU

FDU returns to action for their second non-conference road game in New Jersey [Seton Hall, 11/11/23], looking to shake-off an 80-52 loss at the hands of Fordham on Nov. 30. Unable to find consistent shooting against the Ram's 1-3-1 zone, the Knights suffered their fourth loss in the last five games heading into Saturday's tilt with the Highlanders. Among the bright spots for FDU are junior forward Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [Mont.] and senior forward Sean Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg), who were each named Northeast Conference Prime Performers (11/27) for their efforts in week three of the season.

Almonor scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting in the loss against Jacksonville and has averaged 20 p.p.g. in each of his last five games. The third-year Knight leads the NEC with 17.4 p.p.g. and 3.1 made three-pointers per game. Almonor was held without a field goal Thursday at Fordham.

Moore nearly averaged a double-double in a trio of starts last week, averaging 20.3 p.p.g. and 9.0 r.p.g. The Columbus, Ohio native broke out with 19, 21 and 19-point outings during the Knights' Thanksgiving week trip which included stops at Queens and the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic where FDU faced Jacksonville and Robert Morris. Against Queens (11/22), Moore posted his first double-double in a Knights uniform, shooting 8-for-10 from the field en route to a 21-point, 10-rebound evening. He's currently second in the nine-team NEC in points per game (12.6) and rebounds per night (7.8).
 

About the Opponent

NJIT is 1-1 on their home hardwood while the Highlanders have dropped back-to-back games, including one against NEC foe Wagner on Nov. 25. Led by first-year head coach Grant Billmeier, NJIT recorded its first victory of the season on Nov. 20 against Delaware State in a 81-72 decision at the WEC. Montclair, N.J. native Sebastian Robinson paces NJIT through their first six games with 11.2 points a night. The Highlanders are last in the nine-team America East in offense, averaging 63.5 p.p.g. and are second to last in scoring defense, allowing opponents just shy of 81 points a game.
 

About the Series

Having met eight times heading into Saturday's bout in Newark, NJIT holds a 6-2 all-time record over the Knights in the series which began on Jan. 3, 1986. FDU is 0-2 in the Wellness and Events Center. The Knights are 1-3 against the Highlanders in the last four meetings, with the lone win for FDU in that span coming last season inside Stratis Arena on Dec. 11, 2022 (73-71).
 

What a Win Would Mean

• FDU would start December 1-0 for the second time in four seasons
• Record the first victory against NJIT in their home of the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center

 

Headlines

• Joe Munden Jr. (Harlem, N.Y./Monsignor Scalan) made his first start back after missing both games in the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic (Nov. 25 and Nov. 26) for recovery. Munden Jr. contributed nine points a rebound, assist and steal. He finished 3-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line in 16 minutes
• Two members of the NJIT coaching staff were once Knights with Highlanders head coach Grant Billmeier having served as an FDU assistant coach for the 2014-15 season... Assistant coach Pete Lappas spent nine seasons at FDU, the last four as an assistant coach
• Billmeier and FDU head coach Jack Castleberry are two of 25 first-year head coaches in NCAA Division I... this is FDU's second game in which both head coaches are rookies

 

What's Next

FDU's six-game road trip concludes on Friday, Dec. 8 when the Knights head to Manhattan and visit Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, N.Y. at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The Knights return home on Monday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. versus Columbia for Fraternities and Sororities Life Night and Korean Heritage Night on NEC Front Row and the NEC on the Run app. The first 250 fans receive a free FDU koozie and there will be a Teddy Bear Toss at halftime. Tickets for the game at Stratis Arena against the Lions 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.