HACKENSACK, N.J. – The story of the first half was junior forward
Sean Moore's heroics and he followed up with a stellar second as the FDU men's basketball team (6-6, 0-0 NEC) fell to Columbia Monday night, 87-83, at Stratis Arena, the Knights' first home game in 23 days. The loss was FDU's first at home this season.
Â
Headlining the game's opening minutes were Moore's six points in the first eight minutes as FDU chipped away at the early Lions' lead, led by Noah Robledo's nine points in the infant minutes of the ballgame.
Â
Just about midway through the opening period, a three-way play between a
Joe Munden Jr. steal led to a dish from
DeVante Jamison to junior
Ansley Almonor for an FDU triple – Almonor's first of five – to put the Knights within three.
Â
Jo'el Emanuel would finish at the ring for a driving layup to give the Knights' their first of six leads. Later in the opening half,
Terrence Brown would put an exclamation point on FDU's lead with a dunk in transition to bring the Knights up six.
Â
FDU went into the halftime locker leading 41-39.
Â
Out of the break, Columbia came out to score nine of the first 16 points to retake the lead for the first time since the midpoint of the first.
Â
The Knights' offense produced just three field goals in the first seven minutes of the second half. FDU had three turnovers in that same span.
Things heated up down the stretch as Almonor, the NEC Player of the Week, and Munden Jr. would combine for 13 points in the final six minutes to keep FDU in the hunt -- and put them in front -- as time ticked away.
Almonor's 27 points set a new career best, overcoming the mark of 26 he set against Jacksonville earlier this season.
FDU returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 21 against Fairfield at home, live on the YES Network and streaming on the YES App at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are on-sale now at
FDUKnights.com/Tickets.
Connect with FDU men's basketball onÂ
XÂ andÂ
Instagram,Â
@FDUKnightsMBB.
Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU men's basketball season.
Â
