One of the NEC’s most improved players, Baptiste provided the offensive spark as the Knights won their first two home games of the season last week. Baptiste averaged 24.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg and shot 51.7 percent from the floor, including 4-8 from three-point territory. He erupted for a career-best 23 points, nine rebounds and three steals on Monday as FDU snapped a three-game losing streak with an 80-64 win over Norfolk State in its home opener. Baptiste converted 6-12 field goal attempts, 2-3 from outside the arc and 9-11 from the line. On Saturday, he established a new career-high with 26 points (9-17 FG), and added six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in a 74-71 victory over Stony Brook. He gave FDU the lead for good at 68-66 on a layup with 1:10 to play, then converted a three-point play with 49 seconds left on the clock to put the Knights up by five. Baptiste, who hails from North Brunswick, NJ, ranks second in the NEC with 18.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg and a 48.3 percent success rate from three-point range. The 6’3" guard averaged 4.6 ppg off the bench as a freshman in 2006-07, but with the graduation of two of the Knights’ top-three scorers, Baptiste has thrived in a starting role, raising his scoring average by 14.0 ppg, the biggest jump of any player in the NEC.