Knights Reach the Title Game, Will Play Monmouth
by Ray Floriani
TEANECK, N.J. – In all ways it was the closest sixteen-point game you would hope to see. With a minute to go and the verdict sealed, FDU fans began chanting “we want Monmouth.” They and their Knights will get Monmouth at this same Rothman Center by virtue of the 71-65 semifinal win over Robert Morris.
FDU got out to a 6-1 start over the first two minutes. Three possessions, three scores. Twelve minutes into the game the Knight lead had reached sixteen. Size, especially that of seven-footer Andrea Crosariol, played a major part. Crosariol was scoring, rebounding and firing outlet passes to ignite the fast break. On the other end his presence created problems for Robert Morris.
“Crosariol is not only big, we have some big guys in the league,” said Robert Morris coach Mark Schmidt. “but he’s big and talented.” Crosariol’s defensive presence limited the effectiveness of Colonial inside threat A.J. Jackson. The 6-6 forward scored 12, but was forced into a 5-of-18 shooting afternoon.
Still, Robert Morris began to get back into the contest. The three-pointers started falling, and several defensive lapses on FDU’s part saw Robert Morris guard Tony Lee capitalize with penetrations to the basket.
The Colonials closed to within five at the half, then kept their momentum going early in the final stanza. A three-pointer by Jeremy Chappell gave the visitors a 49-45 lead with just under twelve minutes remaining.
The crowd was beginning to sense the worst. Tom Green’s club was committing turnovers, not locating shooters on defense and played without that energy from the game’s early minutes. Green decided to go into a press.
“It was a gamble,” he admitted, “but a gamble that paid off.” Over the next seven minutes the Knights went on a 15-0 run. The Robert Morris shots were contested, rushed and not falling. At the other end, the Knights clicked on offense especially in transition. With five minutes to play FDU enjoyed a 60-49 lead and the momentum as Robert Morris was spent and finished.
“We got down early and fought back,” Schmidt said. “We got the lead but in the stretch the roof caved in. We are fairly young, FDU has veterans and that’s what veterans do for you.”
FDU swept Robert Morris in the regular season but Green knew it wouldn’t be an easy draw in the semifinal. “Robert Morris is a tough out,” he said. “We knew the two keys were contesting their three-pointers and keeping them off the glass.”
Robert Morris shot 20-of-62 (32 percent)for the game. Interestingly they were 10-of-31 from both two-point and three-point range. On the boards FDU owned a 41-33 edge. Crosariol had 16 points and 10 boards, while NEC Player of the Year Chad Timberlake of FDU led all scorers with 20. Chappell, a deadly three-point shooter for Robert Morris, paced the Colonials with 14 points.
Robert Morris finished the season 15-14. “Overall it was satisfying,” Schmidt said. “Some figured we wouldn’t make the top eight and qualify for the NEC tournament but we got to the semifinals.”
Think it’s hard to defeat a team three straight times? How about seven? Monmouth’s 62-48 triumph over Central Connecticut in the other NEC semifinal was the Hawks’ seventh straight win over the Blue Devils. And this one came in the cozy confines of Central’s packed home court.
FDU will host Monmouth in the NEC final on Wednesday. “It’s a good rivalry,” Timberlake said of the final, “and we match up well.”
Monmouth is patient on offense and with their matchup zone can dictate a slower-paced game. Two keys will be stopping the FDU transition, especially with Gordon Klaiber (14 against Robert Morris) in the open court, and the inside game. Crosariol will face a 7’2″ post player in Monmouth junior John Bunch. Offensively Croariol has an edge, but Bunch clogs the lane defensively and is an excellent shot-blocker. The matchup will be crucial to each team’s success.
Earlier in the day, Rutgers defeated St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena. In attendance for he latter part of the FDU contest was Rutgers assistant Fred Hill, who at one time assisted Tom Green. The FDU game ironically started ten minutes late. Both the Rutgers and FDU games were televised on MSG, and the network wanted the Rutgers game to finish before switching over to Rothman Center for the NEC semifinal.
