Syracuse, NY -- (Sports Network) - Pat Calathes scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds in leading the Saint Joseph's Hawks to an 86-66 win over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the first round of the NIT Season Tip-Off at the Carrier Dome.

Also having a strong game for the Hawks (1-0) was Ahmad Nivins with 19 points and nine boards, while Arvydas Lidzius and Tasheed Carr both contributed 11 points, with the latter accounting for a game-high 12 assists in the win as well.

The Knights (0-1) were paced by Bernell Murray with 18 points, followed by Sean Baptiste who tallied 16. Although he shot just 4-of-15 from the field, Manny Ubilla accounted for 14 points and a team-high seven assists, while Eric Hazard dropped in 11 points.

Saint Joseph's shot a sizzling 65.4 percent from the field, including 5-of-9 behind the three-point line in the first half, yet the squad led by just 14 points at the break, 46-32.

In the second half the Hawks continued to shoot the ball well at 59.3 percent as they streaked to the 20-point win.

The Hawks finished the night hitting 11-of-21 beyond the arc and also outscored Fairleigh Dickinson in the paint, 38-18.

With the win the Hawks now move on to face Syracuse in the East Regional Final on Tuesday night in the Carrier Dome.