Hackensack, N.J. (February 20, 2021)--Mount St. Mary's dropped a heartbreaker at Fairleigh Dickinson, 76-71, in overtime on Saturday afternoon.  The Mount's Damian Chong Qui forced the overtime with a three-pointer with four seconds left in regulation, but the Knights held the Mount to just two points in the extra session to secure the win.  The Mountaineers have lost three in a row to fall to 8-10 overall and 7-7 in the Northeast Conference.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair that featured seven lead changes and four ties.  The Mountaineers went on a 7-0 run to take a 61-54 advantage with just under six minutes remaining in regulation.  A Malik Jefferson dunk started the run, and after a turnover, Deandre Thomas drained a three-pointer to make it 59-54.  Nana Opoku's jumper in the paint pushed the lead to 61-54 with 5:40 on the clock.  The Knights answered with an 11-0 run to take a 65-61 advantage with 2:21 on the clock.  Jahlil Jenkins had six points during the run, with Brandon Powell's three-pointer putting FDU (8-13, 7-8 NEC) on top, 63-61.  Jenkins closed the run with a pair of free throws. 

Chong Qui set up Opoku for a bucket on the next possession, cutting the deficit to 65-63.  Opoku was fouled on the play, but he could not convert the free throw.  After Jenkins missed a three-point attempt, the Mount had a chance to tie, but Frantisek Barton's lay-up rolled off the rim.  FDU's Elyjah Williams then converted in the paint to push the Knights ahead, 67-63, but Opoku came through on the other end with a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it a one-point game with 56 seconds left.

FDU ran most of the shot clock down on its next possession, and Jenkins came through with a tough drive to push the lead to 69-66.  The Mount's Chong Qui missed on a drive, and Opoku's tip-in was off the mark as well, and the Mount was forced to foul WIlliams with 11 seconds left.  Williams missed the front end of the one-and-one, and Chong Qui raced down court and drained a leaning three-pointer with four seconds on the clock to tie the game and force overtime.

FDU outscored the Mount, 7-2, in the overtime period to secure the crucial win.  Powell hit one-of-two at the line to start the scoring in overtime, and Jenkins added a lay-up in transition for a 72-69 lead.  Thomas countered with a jumper in the lane to cut the FDU lead to 72-71, but Jenkins again countered, this time with a floater with 2:13 on the clock for a 74-71 lead.  The Mount had chances to cut into the deficit, missing three free throws, and FDU's Joe Munden, Jr., went 2-for-2 at the line with 17 seconds left to seal the win.

Thomas paced the Mount with 15 points, hitting 3-of-8 from three-point range, while adding five rebounds.  Chong Qui finished with 11 points and seven assists while playing all 45 minutes.  Mezie Offurum added 11 points and six boards while Opoku had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the loss.  Barton had his best game in a Mount uniform with career highs of eight points and 10 rebounds while Josh Reaves hit 3-of-9 from three-point range for all nine of his points.  Jenkins led all scorers with 24 points while Brandon Rush chipped in 15 in the victory.  Munden, Jr., added 14 and Powell 12 for the Knights, who snapped a four-game losing skid. 

FDU shot 51.9 percent (28-of-54) in the game, including 16-of-23 (.696) in the second half.  The Mount shot 40.6 percent in the game, but was 12-of-29 (.414) from three-point range.  Mount St. Mary's held a 41-to-31 edge on the boards while FDU held an 18-to-1 advantage in fast break points.

The Knights jumped out to a 19-9 advantage eight minutes into the game before the Mount was able to fight back with a 15-to-2 run to take a 24-to-21 lead.  Chong Qui and Offurum each had five points in the run that was capped by a Reaves three-pointer. 

The teams will complete the two-game series tomorrow with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off at FDU's Stratis Arena.