HACKENSACK, N.J. – Ten three-pointers in the second half helped the East Texas A&M University men's basketball team rally from being down 17 points to win 70-65 over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Monday afternoon at the Bogota Savings Center, which is the largest comeback in the Division I era.
 
The Knights had a 38-21 lead with 43 seconds to go in the first half, which was the largest lead for either team in the game. The 17-point comeback surpasses the mark of a 15-point comeback at McNeese in 2022-23 for the largest come-from-behind victory in the Division I era.
 
The Lions improve to 3-3 on the season, picking up their first win over a NCAA Division I opponent this season, while the Knights fall to 1-5. Monday's game was the first game of the FDU Basketball Classic held this week in Hackensack.
 
The rally in the second half for the Lions started at the 18:20 mark when they trailed 43-30. East Texas A&M did not allow a point for the next six and a half minutes as five straight points from Tay Mosher (The Colony) gave East Texas A&M a 44-43 lead at the 12:27 mark.  The first lead in the game for the Lions since a momentary 6-5 lead in the first half.
 
FDU did manage to get its lead back up to four in the second half, but the Lions also held a lead as big as six in the period.
 
In the second half, East Texas A&M outscored FDU, 46-27, thanks in large part to shooting 10 for 16 from deep. The Lions made just 16 field goals total in the second half. FDU was held to shoot 8 for 22 along with 12 turnovers in the second half.
 
Gianni Hunt (Lakewood, Calif.) posted 14 points in the second half, going 4 for 4 from deep and 5 for 5 from the field. He was the leading scorer for the Lions in the game with 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
 
Vinny Sigona (Prestonwood Christian Academy) had 11 points, while both Ronnie Harrison (Forney) and Damian Garcia (Houston – Dobie) tallied nine points each.
 
For the Knights, Joey Niesman led the way with 17 points off the bench, shooting 6 for 8 in the game and 4 for 6 from deep.
 

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The Lions close out the FDU Basketball Classic on Tuesday at 2 p.m. eastern, 1 p.m. central, against Army.