Box Score TUCSON, Ariz. - Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) scored a career-high 34 points and had 10 rebounds as Division II's top-ranked team knocked off Division I Fairleigh Dickinson 87-76 in the second round of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Tuesday in Tucson, Ariz. The game was an exhibition for the Roadrunners (2-0), while FDU fell to 1-4 on the season.

"It's a big win for us," McCarron said. "In the loss last night (66-63 to Rhode Island), we were proud of each other for playing hard, but it feels good to come out here and get the win today."

McCarron buried 11-of-13 from the floor and hit 9-of-11 at the line. It was his third straight double-double including exhibitions, and he added a game-high three steals.

"Mitch does a lot of things," head coach Derrick Clark said. "He rebounds the ball, he assists. He's kind of the cog making everything go."

Teammate Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) scored 28 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the outside and sinking all 11 of his free throw attempts. He added eight rebounds and two assists.

Jamal McClerkin (Van Nuys, Calif./Chaminade College Prep) scored 10 points and Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) had nine.

McCarron was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting with four rebounds. The Roadrunners went on a 28-7 run midway through the first half for a 32-10 lead with 8:28 left, their largest lead. The run included 12 straight points, 10 coming from McCarron.

The Knights answered to get within 10 points at 41-31 at the 1:49 mark, but Metro State weathered the storm and took a 49-33 lead into halftime.

FDU come out strong in the second half, using a 21-8 run to cut MSU's lead to six points at 66-60. McCarron and Jefferson responded with back-to-back jumpers, putting the Roadrunners back in front by 10 with 6:39 left.

Jefferson sealed the win by hitting eight free throws in the final minute on his way to 19 second-half points.

One night after getting outrebounded 42-27 by Rhode Island, the Roadrunners dominated the glass 35-17. They also won the turnover battle 11-to-13 and made 23-of-28 (.821) at the free throw line. This helped overcome the hot-shooting Knights, who connected on 12-of-19 (.632) from the outside.

"Our guards rebounded well," said Clark. "The difference is always going to be the guards as long as our bigs are doing their job. I thought our guards went in and chased down a lot of rebounds."

Sidney Sanders Jr. led FDU with 22 points.

Metro State will be back in action with two more exhibitions at the NIT Season Tip-Off next week on Monday and Tuesday. Opponents, locations and times will be announced later.