TEANECK, N.J. — The way of life in the lower-tier conferences means all of a league’s teams are playing for one bid. The 12-member Northeast Conference is one of those leagues. The players and coaches understand it and don’t complain. They know the deal. In fact, only the top eight make the NEC Tournament, whose games are contested on the home floor of the higher seed.

As a conference member, you are either playing for homecourt, or, if you are mathematically eliminated from the chance to play in the conference tournament, you play the role of spoiler. This makes for some entertaining games, such as the one on Thursday in which Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Monmouth, 75-69. Here’s a look at the advanced box:

These two teams entered the game in the NEC’s very large middle tier, which includes eight teams with 4-6, 5-5 or 6-4 conference records. Two of those teams will be among the squads that does not advance to the conference tournament, and Fairleigh Dickson and Monmouth — both now 6-5 — knew a win would bring each a game further from the cut line.

Monmouth’s leading scorer, Travis Taylor, sat out due to a suspension. Coach Dave Calloway refused to mention that and focused on defense or lack of it. The Hawks trailed 40-24 at the half.

“A lot of times, teams start slow in scoring,” Calloway said. “That was not our problem. It was giving up points. Forty at the half and 75 for the game is unacceptable.”

In guards we trust: FDU’s backcourt did the most damage. Sean Baptiste led all scorers with 27 points while grabbing an impressive 10 rebounds. Mike Scott added 20 and was 7-of-7 from the line. In total, the guards accounted for 59, or 79 percent, of FDU’s scoring.

“We let them get to the rim, especially in transition,” Calloway said. “That’s something we could not allow.”

Monmouth’s shooting improved — 43 percent for the game, compared to 24 percent in the first half — after intermission. The Mountain Hawks also took better care of the ball in the second half, committing just three turnovers (after six in the first half) and battled under the glass better.

Calloway also pushed the pace more, realizing that a walk-it-up-the-floor approach doesn’t work when you are down 16 points and the clock is ticking. Monmouth entered the game averaging 64 possessions in NEC play. The first half was on schedule at 33 possessions, but in the final half the possessions increased to 37 for the reasons noted. Scoring-wise Whitney Coleman had 14 second-half points, 18 in the game. Inside, Nick DelTufo got free for nine of his 13 on the night.

Momentum is funny. Monmouth got it to a two-possession game during this stretch but never could draw even, which was a key factor for FDU.

“I was clock watching,” admitted FDU coach Greg Vetrone. “Give Monmouth credit. They made adjustments and took away a few things we did in the first half. They made it tougher for Baptiste to get good looks in the second half.”

FDU shot 4-of-16 for three on the night. The Knights did a good job in transition and attacking the basket with an impressive 64 percent (25-of-39) 2-point-field-goal percentage. Another factor was improvement in turnovers. FDU entered the game with a 22-percent turnover rate in NEC games. The Knights’ 17-percent mark was truly impressive, especially considering they were willing and able to get out and run.

Monmouth is now 7-16 (6-5 in NEC). FDU got off to a rocky non-league start and is 10-13 overall and 6-5 in NEC. By a quirk in schedule, the return meeting for these two clubs is less than 48 hours away as they tip off at noon ET on Saturday at Monmouth.

Ray Florianiis a college basketball writer based in the Northeast. You can also read his pieces at Basketball Times and College Chalktalk.