RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician University men's basketball team was defeated, 95-92, by visiting Roberts Wesleyan College, 95-92, in non-conference action on Tuesday evening at Job Gymasium. Felician was playing its 2021-22 home opener.  

Roberts Wesleyan (2-2) completed a comeback from a 19-point second half deficit when a tiebreaking three-point field goal attempt by junior guard Rian Carter (Rochester, N.Y./Glenville State University) bounced high off the front rim and fell through the hoop with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation time. Felician could only manage a desperation heave as the game clock expired.

The Golden Falcons (1-2) received 26 points and eight rebounds from junior guard Justin Davis (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) (11-16 FG). Classmate Jaylen Colon (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) netted a career-high 25 points with four assists. Colon set a Felician record for most free-throw attempts without a miss by going 12 for 12 at the charity stripe.

Carter tallied nine of his 11 points after halftime, and was one of five Redhawks in double figures. Sophomore swingman Ja'Kair Sanchez (Syracuse, N.Y./William Nottingham) (9-13 FG) totaled 21 points and 11 rebounds and senior guard Shane Fanning (Rochester, N.Y./Fingerlakes CC) also scored 21 points for Roberts.

Felician recovered from an early 9-1 deficit to move ahead 30-19 by the midway point of the first half. The Golden Falcons led 51-39, at halftime, then stretched to a 63-42 bulge following a Colon jump shot with 17:13 remaining. Still trailing by 14 at the 12:36 mark, Roberts saw Jean Aristil (Lantana, Fla./Genesee CC) and Fanning nail consecutive three-point field goals and pulled within 76-72 with 8:37 remaining.

The Golden Falcons pushed the edge back to seven, but the undeterred Redhawks completed the comeback with 4:52 left, moving ahead, 82-81, following a Sanchez putback. By 2:06, the hosts were back on top, 90-87, only to see Carter drain a long three from straight on to tie the score.

Tied at 92-92, Roberts missed on a layup out of a timeout. With the shot clock off, Felician rushed the ball upcourt and found Colon in the right corner. The junior's three-point attempt went around the rim and out with about nine ticks left, and Carter rebounded, dribbled past midcourt, and pulled up for the game-winner.

Roberts shot 52 percent from the floor. Dee-End McRae (Newark, N.J./Newark Central) recorded 19 points and eight rebounds for Felician, which committed only seven turnovers.

Felician is back in action on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Md.