TEANECK, N.J. – How would you feel holding a team to under 70 efficiency and losing? In a game where both teams were under 70, FDU surprised St. Francis (NY) 45-44 at the Rothman Center. The win was FDU’s second of the Northeast Conference campaign. The Knights failed to qualify for the NEC tournament. St. Francis, meanwhile, needed the win for a third seed in the NEC tournament. The loss dropped them to fourth.
A look at the numbers for this game:
| Possessions | Offensive Efficiency | |
| St. Francis(NY) | 66 | 67 |
| FDU | 66 | 68 |
‘I feel great for the guys coming back,” FDU coach Greg Vetrone said. “It was a difficult season, I take blame for that but the guys competed today.”
The eFG percentage was 64%, combined. Both teams shot 32%. One of the keys was sharp shooting Ben Mockford of St. Francis shooting only 2 of 10 beyond the arc. Credit FDU senior Briahn Smith in that regard.
Inside, Kinu Rochford was a force, leading FDU with a 14-point, 10-board effort. Kevin Douglas paced St. Francis with 14 points. Mockford added a dozen while leading scorer Akeem Johnson shot 3 of 9 for six points.
Melquan Bolding led all scorers with 18 points. Vetrone noted that since freshman walk on Dylan Moody took over the point six games ago, Bolding has played better. “Playing all year without an experienced point guard hurt us,” Vetrone said. “Moody came on and did a nice job.”
Taking nothing away from FDU, the visiting Terriers were minus Travis Nichols and Stefan Perunicic, two capable scorers. “Having them in there gives us more scoring,” St. Francis coach Glen Braica said, “it allows us to spread out the attack and changes the dynamic.”
FDU finished with 16 turnovers, only 6 after halfime. That was a key point in the victory as limiting second half turnovers prevented transition opportunities by the Terriers. On their end the 19 turnovers committed by St. Francis did not help the offensive effort.
| Turnovers | Turnover Rate | |
| St. Francis(NY) | 19 | 29 |
| FDU | 16 | 24 |
St. Franicis entered the game shooting 37% from downtown in NEC play. They managed 4 of 21 (19%). FDU “pitched a shutout” going 0 for 11 from long distance.
With the regular season in the books, FDU finishes at 3-26 (2-16 NEC). St. Francis enters the NEC tournament with a 15-14 record (12-6 NEC).
