SALEM, Mass. -- The FDU-Florham men's basketball team posted a season-low scoring output in a 76-39 loss to No.11 Worcester Polytechnic Institute at the Salem State Holiday Classic on Tuesday afternoon.
The Devils (1-10) failed to find an offensive rhythm and posted 31.9 percent clip from the floor and converted just 4-of-13 attempts from the free throw line in the loss. The Pioneers (10-1) frustrated FDU-Florham all afternoon and caused 22 turnovers in the victory.
After averaging seven points and 9.5 rebounds in the two-game trip, FDU-Florham sophomore forward
Donte Ali (Willingboro, N.J.) was named to the All-Tournament Team. Ali recorded a double-double in yesterday's loss to the host Vikings and totaled two points and seven rebounds on Tuesday against the Pioneers.
For the second consecutive day, the Devils failed to hold a lead in the contest. The Pioneers scored the first 11 points of the contest before junior guard
Charlie Slack (Audbon, N.J.) knocked down a 3-pointers for the Devils' first basket of the contest. Following Slack's three-ball, WPI continued its surge and broke the game wide open with a 19-4 run over the next 10 minutes of action.
The Pioneers entered the break with a commanding 41-19 advantage, led by eight points apiece from
Clyde Niba and
Obi Obiora. FDU-Florham's shooting woes extended to the free throw line, where the Devils knocked down just two of their 10 attempts in the first stanza. Sophomore
Michael Barber (Middletown, N.J.) hit two 3-pointers to lead the Devils with six points at the break. Barber finished with a game-high 14 points on the day.
Following a WPI layup, Barber drilled a three and Ali found a bucket to provide the Devils a brief 5-0 spurt. Unfortunately for FDU-Florham, the momentum would end there as the Pioneers responded with a 13-2 run, which extended their cushion to 30 points. WPI remained in control for the duration of the period en route to the 37-point victory.
Obiora and Niba each finished with 10 points in limited second-half action to lead WPI. Niba added a game-best nine rebounds to his ledger and knocked down 3-of-7 from the floor.
Next up for the Devils:FDU-Florham's next contest will be in 2015 as the Devils head to Ewing, N.J. to take on The College of New Jersey on January 5 at 7 p.m.
