HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU takes a one-game hiatus from Northeast Conference play as Knights men's basketball (6-10, 0-2 NEC) plays host to future NEC member Chicago State (7-15, 0-0 INDY) on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ET on the YES Network and streaming on the YES App. Chicago State is set to join the NEC as the league's newest full member on July 1. NEC play resumes for the Burgundy and Blue on Saturday, Jan. 13 when Stonehill comes to Hackensack in the first of two meetings this season between the Knights and Skyhawks. Saturday's matchup will also air on YES and the YES App at 1 p.m. ET.

Tickets for both games at Stratis Arena are on-sale now at FDUKnights.com/Tickets.
 

About FDU

The Knights head into the week's pair of games looking to snap a five-game skid following defeats in the first two league games of the 2023-24 slate at Merrimack (Jan. 4) and at home against newcomer Le Moyne (Jan. 5). The NEC's leading offense averages 78.1 overall in 16 games this season, however the Knights have been held to an average of under 60 points a night (59.5). In the team's last outing, a 74-63 home loss to the Dolphins, FDU the Knights couldn't sustain a one-point halftime lead while Le Moyne built a 16-0 run that would be the difference for the reclassifying institution's first NEC victory in their first-ever conference game.

FDU was without senior guard Joe Munden Jr. (Harlem, N.Y./Monsignor Scanlan) following an injury sustained in the conference opener against the Warriors.

Senior forward Sean Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) finished with his fourth double-double of the season posting 20 points -- one shy of his career high -- and 12 rebounds, a new personal best.

FDU put on a shooting clinic in the opening act with junior Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [Mont.]) and Moore (erasing an early 2-0 deficit for the Knights as the duo of forwards knocked down a pair of triples. The Knights' signature press was immaculate in the opening 4:13 as FDU forced three Le Moyne turnovers in the first three-plus minutes of play.

FDU went 1-8 from the field in the final minutes of the game.

Fuzz "Moore" is tied for second in the Northeast Conference in rebounding through the first two conference games, averaging 11 boards. Moore is also second in offensive caroms, tallying 4.5 per NEC game.

Almonor's four made triples in the NEC lid-lifter at Merrimack are the second most among NEC players in conference play.
 

About Chicago State

Chicago State makes their first of many trips to Hackensack on Wednesday in the inaugural meeting between the Knights and Cougars. The lone NCAA Division I independent in men's basketball, Chicago State will join the Northeast Conference on July 1 as the league's westernmost member. Sitting at 7-15 on the season, Chicago State's record is deceiving as the Cougars knocked-off then-No. 25 Northwestern 75-73 on Dec. 13 and fell to the Big 12's Kansas State by seven on Jan. 2, 62-55. Averaging 63.7 points a game, Chicago State's opponents have outscored them by a margin of 6.8 points with foes tallying 70.5. Junior guards Wesley Cardet, Jr. and Jahsean Corbett are the lone double-digit scorers for the Cougars with Cardet marking at 17.6 p.p.g and Corbett scoring 13.8 p.p.g.
 

About Stonehill

In their second season as a member of the nine-team NEC, Stonehill comes to Hackensack for their third NEC bout of 2024 after opening with a pair of losses against Central Connecticut and LIU. Sitting with an overall record of 2-15, Stonehill has fell in each of their 11 road games this season while their two wins, which both came on their home hardwood of Merkert Gymnasium, Chas Stinson leads the Skyhawks in conference game scoring with an average of 15.0 points through the pair of league battles. Stonehill trails only FDU in NEC field goal percentage at 41.2 percent.
 

About the Series

FDU and Chicago State meet for the first time.

The Knights 1-1 against Stonehill, splitting the first two meetings between the two programs - both of which came last season. FDU won the opener 65-57 on Jan. 16, 2023 at Stonehill while the Skyhawks left Stratis Arena with a win on Jan. 22 of last year, 70-59.
 

What a Win Would Mean

• FDU looks to snap a five-game skid (longest active among NEC teams)
• A win over Stonehill would be the first NEC win of the season for FDU

 

What's Next

FDU heads to Saint Francis U on Monday, Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) to face the Red Flash at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row and the NEC on the Run app from DeGol Arena in Loretto, Pa.

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.