Hawkins leads balanced St. Francis (BKN) to NEC opener 79-63
NEW YORK (AP) — Chauncey Hawkins scored 16 points to lead five St. Francis (Brooklyn) players in double figures as the Terriers defeated defending champion Fairleigh Dickinson 79-63 in a Northeast Conference opener on Thursday night.
Deniz Celen added 14 points for the Terriers (7-6), who won a fourth straight. Unique McLean chipped in 12 points with 10 rebounds, Rob Higgins scored 11 and Stevan Krtinic 10.
Hawkins made 9 of 11 from the free throw line. Yaradyah Evans grabbed nine rebounds and Celen eight as the Terriers held a 39-34 edge on the boards.
Xzavier Malone-Key scored 19 points for the Knights (2-10), who have now lost five straight games. Jahlil Jenkins added 16 points, Elyjah Williams had 12 points with 10 rebounds.
Jenkins hit a floater with 12:30 remaining that pushed him past the 1,000 career points milestone for FDU.
St. Francis scored 21 points off 16 turnovers.
St. Francis travels to Robert Morris Thursday. Fairleigh Dickinson faces Bryant on the road on Saturday.
