Dec. 7, 2012

HACKENSACK, N.J. - Sidney Sanders Jr.'s tip-in as time expired broke the game's only tie as Fairleigh Dickinson held off Lafayette's comeback bid, with an 82-80 victory, on Friday night at Stratis Arena. The Leopards fell, despite a career-high 27-point effort from Seth Hinrichs.

The loss drops Lafayette to 3-8 overall, and 0-6 on the road, while FDU improved to 4-4 with the home- opening win. Hinrichs scored 15 of his 27 in the second half, and was joined in double figures by Dan Trist, who added 17 in the game. Mustafa Jones scored 18 points on six threes to lead FDU, while Lonnie Robinson netted 17 and Kinu Rochford had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).

FDU led by as many as 14 points in the first 20 minutes, due to a hot start offensively (8-of-10 from three). The Knights sprinted out to a 9-0 advantage less than a minute into the game and withstood Lafayette's 10-2 spurt that cut the deficit to 13-12 a few minutes later. With 7:33 on the clock, Jones drilled a wing three, his fourth of the half, to put the Knights up 32-18 and cap a 19-6 run. Overall, the home team shot at a 67 percent clip in the half, connecting on 16-of-24 shots, and went into the locker room with a 44-35 lead.

Lafayette started 0-of-7 from beyond the arc before Hinrichs sunk back-to-back treys late in the period. The Leopards were able to keep FDU's lead within single digits, due in large part to nine Knights' turnovers, including three steals by Joey Ptasinski and two from Tony Johnson.

The Leopards came out after intermission on an 11-5 run to draw within three (49-46) before FDU answered with a 10-2 stretch, which included consecutive threes by Jones and two baskets inside by Robinson. A Hinrichs three ended the run and the Maroon and White trailed 59-51 at 14:19.

Midway through the second frame, Lafayette made it a two-point game (65-63) on Ptasinski's three-pointer, the closest the Leopards had been since the 14:06 mark of the first half. The Leopards stayed within striking distance over the next five minutes and were down 72-68 with 4:51 to go after Trist made one of two at the line.

Lonnie Robinson's three on the other end, followed by a pair at the line, extended FDU's lead to 77-68 a minute later. The Leopards refused to go away, though, and Bryce Scott's triple made it 77-71 before a stop gave Lafayette possession coming out of the final media timeout. Hinrichs' putback of a Trist miss drew it to 77-73 and then Lafayette forced FDU into its 14^th turnover with 1:27 on the clock. Hinrichs got an open look at a corner three on the ensuing trip, but his shot rimmed in-and-out.

Sekou Harris' two misses with a minute to play, and then a loose-ball foul on Melquan Bolding after Scott misfired put Trist on the line for a pair with 44.3 seconds showing. Trist hit both prior to Sanders Jr. draining two and FDU held the lead at four. Hinrichs nailed a trey with 34.3 left, making it a 79-78 game, and Sanders Jr. made one of two at the line.

Johnson's drive to the rack missed, but Trist followed the shot and tied the game at 80 apiece with 22.9 seconds remaining. Flannigan blocked Robinsons shot to set up an inbounds play for FDU with 3.7 seconds to play. Jones' shot from the corner rimmed out, but Sanders Jr. tipped the miss at the buzzer to give the Knights an 82-80 win.

Lafayette has a quick turnaround and will host Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The first 250 fans in attendance at Kirby Sports Center will receive a 2012-13 Lafayette men's basketball schedule poster.

Game Notes:

Hinrichs has scored at least 20 points three times this season

Lafayette had 10 steals for the fourth time this season

Ptasinski's four thefts set a new career high

Flannigan matched his career high with nine points and set a new career mark with two blocked shots