HACKENSACK, N.J. – A persistent FDU (6-13, 3-3) team fended off Wagner (6-11, 1-5) in a 68-61 victory on Monday afternoon in Hackensack. The Knights have won two of three conference games at home this season.
- Joey Niesman (7-14 FG) finished with a team-high 23 points
- He ignited FDU in the second half with 19 of their 37 points
- Niesman's 23 points matched a season-high
- Niesman connected on four triples, all coming in the second stanza
- The graduate student guard played all 40 minutes for the first time this season
- He complemented his scoring with two steals
FDU set the tone early with a sharp opening stretch, scoring the game's first seven points and building a 10–0 lead by the 15:02 mark behind
Eric Parnell's early three-point play.
Taeshaud Jackson controlled the glass in the opening minutes, and the Knights used second-chance points from
Arthur Cox to maintain separation. Wagner slowly chipped away, but FDU still carried a 31–29 advantage into halftime after Cox's late putback.
The second half opened with a brief Wagner push that tied the game at 37–37 and gave the visitors a 39–37 edge on a Nick Jones fast-break dunk at 14:54. FDU responded with composure, getting a key finish from
Cyril Martynov and then a second-chance bucket by Niesman to regain control, 41–39. When Wagner tied it again at 44–44, Niesman answered with a three and the Knights began to tilt the game back in their favor.
Midway through the half, FDU delivered its decisive run.
Arthur Cox finished inside to make it 51–49, then Niesman picked Jones' pocket and fed Parnell for a t three that pushed the margin to 54–49. Moments later, Niesman drilled another triple and converted three straight free throws, stretching the lead to 60–51 with 5:48 left and giving the Knights their largest cushion of the night.
Wagner made one last push, closing within 64–59 on a Jones three with 2:52 remaining, but Jackson answered with a pull-up jumper and Martynov sealed it at the line in the final 26 seconds. FDU closed out a 68–61 victory, outscoring Wagner 37–32 after halftime to secure the home win.
- FDU outrebounded Wagner 33-22
- 12 of these rebounds came on the offensive end
- The Knights cashed in with 13 second chance points
- Taeshaud Jackson recorded nine points and ten rebounds
- It's his eighth game this season with ten or more boards
- Art Cox (5-7 FG)) scored 13 points off the bench in 16 minutes of action
- Cox is averaging 12.6 points off the bench in three NEC home games this season
- FDU (12-23 FG) shot 52.1% in the second half
- The Knights held Wagner to just 43.8% from the field and 35.7% from deep
FDU will hit the road on Friday, January 23, to take on Central Connecticut. The Knights and Blue Devils will begin their battle at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row.
Connect with the Knights on Instagram and X @FDUKnightsMBB
Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor of FDU Men's Basketball
