HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU men's basketball (11-16, 7-5) is set to hit the road this week. It is their turn to travel to Western Pennsylvania to take on NEC foes Mercyhurst (13-16, 7-7) and Saint Francis U (10-17, 5-8). The Knights and Lakers play Thursday, before FDU battles the Red Flash on Saturday afternoon.

Tipoff with the Lakers is set for 7 p.m. with coverage available on NEC Front Row.

Thursday brings FDU an opportunity to avenge a loss earlier this season. Mercyhurst came into Hackensack in January and defeated the Knights, 67-60. While four Knights scored in double-figures the first time around, FDU struggled to shoot it from deep as a team. Terrence Brown did find success, scoring 19 points on 7-12 shooting. The Knights will try to keep Mercyhurst off the free throw line, where they converted 16 points in the teams' first meeting.

With just four games remaining, the Knights are on the cusp of securing the right to host an NEC quarterfinal game. They currently sit third in the standings and are a game ahead of Stonehill. They are 2.5 games ahead of Saint Francis U. A win on Thursday would all but solidify themselves in the top four.

Mercyhurst has enjoyed a successful first season at the Division I level. Despite being ineligible for the NEC tournament, they are .500 in conference play and have beaten three of the top four teams in the standings. Graduate student Jeff Planutis (15.2 ppg) is an All-NEC hopeful.

Just as they will look for revenge on Thursday, the Knights are also trying to get payback on the Red Flash. Saint Francis U beat FDU in Hackensack 75-71 back in January.  In this loss, the Knights surrendered 49 second-half points. Jo'el Emanuel will aim to have similar success in this matchup, as he recorded 24 points and ten rebounds.

The Red Flash and Knights are set to tipoff at 2 p.m. on Saturday on NEC Front Row.

Saint Francis is trying to separate themselves from the bottom half of the NEC. At 5-8, they are a half game up on the remaining teams in the standings. With just three games left, they could finish anywhere from a four seed to the ninth seed. Riley Parker is their leading scorer at 12.5 points per game.

After this two-game swing, FDU will host Stonehill next Thursday, February 27. The Knights then close their regular season at home against LIU on March 1.