BROOKLYN, N.Y. - FDU men's basketball recorded Northeast Conference win number eight on the campaign Thursday night as the Burgundy and Blue toppled LIU on the road 80-79 to move back into first place. The Knights allowed eight unanswered points in the game's final two minutes though the story of the game was graduate student guard Demetre Roberts' nine second half points to push FDU over the top, including the eventual game-winner.

Trading buckets early on the sides were separated by no more than five points going into the under-16 break, though Tobin Anderson's side was whistled for five fouls in the first four minutes of the game leading to a line change from the Knights' deep bench. After senior Heru Bligen and Roberts poured in layups, the Burgundy and Blue sprinted for 8-of-14 from the field down the back half of the opening period, led by sophomore Ansley Almonor's seven points in the run. Bolstering the Knights' late-game push towards the contest's end, Almonor would drop two clutch threes down the srretch.

The Spring Valley, N.Y. native Almonor finished his 31 minutes of action with a team-best 21 points on seven made field goals, tied with Roberts for the team lead. Coming off a stellar performance behind the arc in Saturday's loss to Wagner, the Knights etched five threes in 18 tries at the Steinberg Wellness Center, unable to find momentum from distance. From the field, the Knights dazzled with 29 made buckets with the final two made by Roberts as his night would end 5-for-6 in his final six attempts.

Up three at the halftime buzzer, FDU would see their lead cut to one at the midway point of the second period though the Sharks would end the game on a 9-3 scoring run, fueled by three points each from Tre Wood, Marko Maletic and Ahmed Essahaty.

FDU's lead in the ballgame would grow to as many as 11 points with 4:05 to play in regulation before securing their second series sweep of the campaign.

With the win, FDU is now 5-0 on the road in NEC play in 2022-23.

Moving to 15-11 on the season and 8-3 in NEC play, the Knights return home on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. when the Knights play host to Central Connecticut on ESPN+ at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.

The 2022-23 men's basketball season is presented by Bogota Savings Bank.