HACKENSACK, N.J. (Interstat) — Taeshaud Jackson scored 22 points and Fairleigh Dickinson used a decisive second-half run to pull away from Saint Francis (PA) for a 66-59 victory in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Rothman Center.

In a rematch of a Jan. 4 game won by the Red Flash, the Knights exacted a measure of revenge by controlling the paint and capitalizing on a prolonged Saint Francis shooting drought after halftime. The win improved Fairleigh Dickinson to 10-16 overall, while Saint Francis fell to 6-19.

The game was a defensive struggle defined by poor shooting, particularly from the perimeter. The Red Flash finished the night shooting just 31.7% from the field and a frigid 19.2% from 3-point range. Their offensive struggles were encapsulated in a stretch of more than seven minutes in the second half where they managed only two points, allowing the Knights to transform a narrow lead into a comfortable cushion.

Jackson, a 6-foot-6 junior from Denver, was the catalyst for Fairleigh Dickinson. He added a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double, consistently attacking the rim and finishing through contact. His back-to-back baskets, a layup and a jump shot, sparked a 10-2 run that gave the Knights a 48-38 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, a margin Saint Francis could never seriously threaten.

The Knights’ 7-foot center Cyril Martynov of Barrie, Canada, provided a strong interior presence with eight points, two assists and two blocks. Joey Niesman added 14 points for Fairleigh Dickinson, which shot 52.3% from the field but was hampered by 16-of-28 shooting from the free-throw line and 15 turnovers.

Saint Francis was led by Chris Moncrief’s 14 points and Gestin Liberis’ 13 points and nine rebounds. The Red Flash dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 14 rebounds to Fairleigh Dickinson’s six, leading to 16 second-chance points. However, they squandered those extra opportunities with inefficient shooting, scoring just 59 points on 68 possessions.

Ahmad Harrison scored 10 points for the Red Flash, who also forced 15 Knights turnovers, converting them into 16 points.

The first half was a ragged affair, with both teams combining for 20 turnovers. Fairleigh Dickinson held a 29-25 lead at the break despite making only four of its 18 3-point attempts. Saint Francis stayed close by attacking the basket for 18 of its 25 first-half points in the paint.

The Knights opened the second half with a quick 7-2 spurt to extend their lead to nine, but the Red Flash responded with a 9-2 run of their own, capped by a Skylar Wicks 3-pointer, to close the gap to 38-36 with 16:38 to play. That was as close as they would get. Fairleigh Dickinson’s defense tightened, and Jackson took over offensively during the critical stretch that followed, securing the win.

The game drew an announced crowd of 796. Fairleigh Dickinson will host Central Connecticut on Saturday. Saint Francis (PA) is next in action at home against Long Island on Feb. 19.