MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota's (7-5, 1-1) soured a strong defensive effort from FDU (3-10, 0-0) on Monday night at Williams Arena. The Gophers defeated the Knights by a score of 60-43. FDU trailed by just three at halftime after an impressive opening 20 minutes.
- Eric Parnell (6-14 FG) led the team with 17 points
- Parnell drilled five three pointers
- Parnell's eighth game with three or more made three-pointers
- Fourth-straight game with three or more made three-pointers
- Matches a season-high in made threes for the senior
- Parnell is leading the team at 11.4 points per game
Minnesota hit three of their first four shots and jumped out to a 7-2 lead. The Knights immediately answered with a 7-0 spurt that gave them a 9-7 lead.
Joey Niesman and
Eric Parnell combined for FDU's first seven points.
When the Gophers began scoring from deep, so did FDU. Trailing 14-11,
Josiah Francis knotted the game with a triple. Minnesota hit threes on their next two possessions, Parnell cashed in another from beyond the arc. FDU trailed 20-17 with a little less than nine minutes remaining in the half.
Parnell continued to light it up. Two addition three-pointers from the senior ignited an 8-0 FDU run that gave them a 25-22 lead. The Gophers responded with an 8-0 run of their own and matched their largest lead of the first half at five. However, two free throws from
Sebastian Haubro and a layup from Niesman cut the lead back down to one. The Gophers converted two free throws in the final minute and took a 32-29 lead into the break,
Minnesota opened the second half on a 19-4 run that broke open the game. The Knights struggled to shoot it during this stretch. However, FDU continued to play a physical brand of basketball on the defensive end. They held Minnesota to 32.3% from the floor 23.5% from deep. They did this without fouling, as the Gophers attempted just two free throws in the second half.
- Joey Niesman orchestrated the offense to the tune of eight points and three assists
- Niesman complemented his stat-sheet with eight rebounds and two steals
- FDU was outrebounded by just one board on the glass (39-40)
- 13 of these rebounds came on the offensive end
- Taeshaud Jackson grabbed ten rebounds
- His fourth game this seaon with double-digit rebounds
- The Knights held Minnesota to 38.1% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc
- Led by Niesman, FDU produced seven steals and forced Minnesota into 12 turnovers
- The game consisted of five ties and six lead changes
FDU begins conference play on Monday, January 2, at Mercyhurst. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Before returning home, the Knights will take on Saint Francis on Sunday, January 4.
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Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor of FDU Men's Basketball
