STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A corner three at the buzzer in overtime lifted Wagner (7-13, 2-7) to a 75-72 win over FDU (7-16, 4-6) on Saturday afternoon.
- Joey Niesman led the Knights with a team-high 23 points
- Niesman shot 9-14 from the field and 4-5 from deep
- 23 points match a season-high for Niesman
- The guard complemented his scoring with six assists and three rebounds
- Niesman logged 37 minutes in the loss
After a slow start, the Knights found their rhythm late in the first half behind a burst of three‑point shooting from
Joey Niesman and
Eric Parnell, trimming what had been a 12‑point deficit down to 33–29 at the break. FDU stayed aggressive inside, with
Taeshaud Jackson and
David Jevtic generating paint touches and second‑chance looks. Still, Wagner's ability to get to the free‑throw line early (11–12 FT in the first half) kept FDU chasing.
The second half featured FDU's strongest offensive stretch. Niesman took over, scoring repeatedly at the rim and from deep, while Parnell and Melson added timely perimeter shooting. FDU mounted a 13‑0 run midway through the period to flip the scoreboard and eventually built a 62–55 lead with under seven minutes remaining. But Wagner clawed back, capitalizing on turnovers and second‑chance baskets. The Knights held a 64–63 lead entering the final seconds, but a Wagner bucket with 42 seconds left put FDU behind. Niesman's driving layup with four seconds remaining forced overtime at 66–66.
Overtime opened with promise for FDU as Niesman scored immediately for a 68–66 lead and Jackson followed with two inside baskets, giving the Knights multiple two‑point advantages. But Wagner responded each time, and after FDU's lone turnover in OT with eight seconds left, the Seahawks converted a game‑winning three with just one second remaining to secure the 75–72 final.
- Taeshaud Jackson (7-13 FG) tallied 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds
- Eric Parnell rounded back into form by going 4-8 from deep
- Parnell finished with 14 points
- Noah Melson added ten points
- The Knights shot 10-23 from beyond the arc
- FDU dished out 16 assists
FDU returns home on Thursday, February 5, when they take on Stonehill at 7 p.m. in Hackensack. Fans can catch the game 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
