HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU men's basketball (13-14, 7-5 NEC) earned the Knights' third Northeast Conference sweep of the season Saturday as the Burgundy and Blue toppled Saint Francis U 93-74 inside the Bogota Savings Bank Center.
The Knights shot the ball lights-out against the Red Flash, finishing 53.4 percent from the field, the second time this season FDU shot more than 50 percent against a Division I opponent (fourth overall). FDU is 3-1 in 2023-24 when shooting 50 percent from the field or higher.
Five Knights finished in double-figures, led by junior forward
Ansley Almonor's (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [Mont.]) 21 points, the third-straight game Almonor led the Knights in scoring (14th time this season). Freshman guard
Jameel Morris (Willingboro, N.J./Trenton Catholic) made in impact in his first game since Jan. 10, scoring 11 points in an effective 10 minutes, shooting 3-for-3 from behind the arc with a pair of free throw makes. Morris also contributed two rebounds and an assist and steal off the bench.
"He [Morris] did a great job tonight; was really impressive," said head coach
Jack Castleberry following the triumph, referring to
Jameel Morris. "He was a big reason that first half shook out the way it did and made a big impact. He's been patient as a freshman and hasn't played a ton but he got his chance in the rotation tonight and showed he belonged."
Freshman guard
Terrence Brown (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights) tallied 15 points on 4-10 shooting, though the newcomer hit 7-of-8 from the foul line. Brown nabbed four rebounds and dished eight times with just one turnover in his 13th start of the campaign. Brown's eight assists set a new career-high.
Saint Francis U jumped out to an early lead but the Knights clawed back in a first half that featured six lead changes and four times. During its nearly seven-minute advantage, the Red Flash had a scoring run of eight and a period-high lead of four points. There were four technical fouls in the first half, three against FDU.
FDU's signature press was effective in the opening act with 15 points from turnovers (paired with seven steals) and 15 points off the fast break, compared to SFU's two fast break points in the first half.
Out of the intermission, the Knights opened up a 7-3 run with five points from Almonor, including a three-pointer nine seconds into the period.
The Knights closed the game on a 15-6 scoring run to cement the 19-point win, the team's largest margin of victory against an NEC opponent.
FDU has just four regular season remaining on the docket, the next two on the road. The Knights return to action on Thursday, Feb. 22 at Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the program's first-ever visit to Le Moyne on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. ET. Both games will air live on NEC Front Row and the NEC on the Run app.
The Knights have clinched a spot in the 2024 Northeast Conference Championship! Stay tuned for ticketing and bracket information.
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Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU men's basketball season
