Fairleigh Dickinson Men's Hoops Drops 72-68 Decision at St. Francis (PA)
Felton pours in 30 points, Hammond posts 20 points, 11 rebounds.

Box Score

James Felton and Matt Hammond combined to score 50 points, but it wasn't enough as the Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball team dropped a 72-68 decision at St. Francis (PA).  Felton poured in a game-high 30 points and grabbed eight boards while Hammond netted 20 points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds as the Knights fell to 4-22 overall and 4-13 in NEC play.  Reiner Mougnol paced the Red Flash with 25 points as they moved to 6-18 overall and 5-12 in the NEC.

The Knights led for the entire first half behind 14 points from Felton and 13 from Hammond.  They built the advantage to as many as 13 points and led by 12 at 38-26 with 3:59 left in the first session.  Matt Augustin stepped up for the Red Flash by netting all nine points in a 9-2 run to close out the half and Fairleigh Dickinson settled for a 40-35 lead at the break.

The Red Flash would then turn to Mougnol in the second half. Saint Francis outscored Fairleigh Dickinson, 10-4, to open the second half, taking its first lead of the game (45-44) on a three-pointer by junior Dan Swoger four minutes into the second period. Mougnol scored five points in the Red Flash run. 

The game see-sawed back and forth before Saint Francis freshman Rodney Gibson helped the Flash assume control in the waning moments. With SFU leading, 66-64, with 1:38 to play, Gibson scored his team's final six points to propel Saint Francis to the win. The rookie swingman hit a lay-up and canned four straight free throws to put the Flash up, 72-66, with under 30 seconds to play. Fairleigh Dickinson missed on four three-point attempts and a pair of free throws in the game's final 30 seconds.

Felton took over half of Fairleigh Dickinson's field goal attempts (27-of-52), finishing the night 14-for-27 from the field. Hammond went 5-for-10 from the field with a pair of three-pointers and 8-of-14 at the free throw line.  Marcus Whitaker chipped in nine points and a career-high nine assists.

Fairleigh Dickinson returns to the court on Wednesday, February 20th at home against NEC leader Central Connecticut State at 7:00 p.m.