Game Delayed Due to Unexpected Elevator Mishap
College basketball players from Farleigh Dickinson University (FDU) faced an unexpected challenge before their away game against Long Island University (LIU) on Thursday. Several FDU players found themselves trapped in a cramped elevator at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, causing a delay in the Division I Northeast Conference game.
Dramatic Rescue Effort by the New York City Fire Department
The stranded players had to rely on the New York City Fire Department for their rescue from the elevator. Ansley Almonor, one of the FDU players, recounted the experience to ESPN, saying, “The lights went off and we were just like, ‘Oh, no.’ We’re trying to press the button and the button lights weren’t coming on. It was crazy.”
The situation became even more challenging for one teammate who suffered from claustrophobia and panicked. Almonor added, “It was just getting hot, though. It was getting really, really hot. We were sweating in there.”
Thankfully, the players were successfully extricated from the elevator with the assistance of the fire department. Footage circulating on social media showed each player climbing out of the confined space one by one.
Game Commences After 17-Minute Delay
Following the rescue, the game eventually began 17 minutes after the scheduled start time. The FDU team expressed their gratitude to the New York City Fire Department with a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Thanks to the @FDNY for getting us out safely to play some @nechoops!” The fire department responded, showing their readiness for any emergency by saying, “Ready for any emergency!”
FDU Knights Secure Victory in Overtime
Despite the unexpected delay and the challenging circumstances, the FDU Knights emerged victorious in an intense game against the LIU Sharks. The match featured 25 lead changes and ended in a tie with a score of 79-79. However, during overtime, Heru Bligen, Terrence Brown, and Ansley Almonor, who celebrated reaching 1,000 career points for FDU during the game, all contributed to the Knights’ 84-82 win.
Keeping Spirits High Despite the Ordeal
Fortunately, the FDU team was able to maintain a sense of humor in light of the pre-game incident. They took to X after their triumph, stating, “Going UP! Just not in that elevator.”