NEW YORK -- Jason Wingate scored six points in the final 1:40 and Manhattan held off Fairleigh Dickinson 80-77 Tuesday night in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Manhattan College's Arturo Dubois follows through on a dunk in the first half of basketball action against Farleigh Dickinson Tuesday March 14, 2006 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Knights' Chad Timberlake fell short with a desperation 3-pointer with 3 seconds left.

The Jaspers (19-10), winners of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season title, played an NIT home game for the first time since a 67-65 decision against Wisconsin-Green Bay on March 19, 1992. They had lost three consecutive NIT games, all on the road, since then.

They travel to meet top-seeded Maryland on Saturday.

Wingate, who finished with 15 points, sank two foul shots to provide a 76-74 edge with 1:40 left before Michael Peeples hit a 3-pointer from the left side. Wingate countered with a driving score to make it 78-77 with 57 seconds remaining.

Gordon Klaiber went to the free throw line with 40.9 seconds to play for the Knights (20-12). He was short with both attempts, but the ball was tipped back to him. Fairleigh Dickinson squandered that chance, as well, when Manhattan's Arturo Dubois tipped away an errant pass to Wingate, who was quickly fouled. He sank both of his foul shots with 22.9 seconds left for the 80-77 margin.

Wingate finished 3-of-13 from the floor and had struggled before his late-game heroics.

"I was on him because I didn't think he played a real good game, but I've got to put him in down the stretch because he's Mr. Clutch," said Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzalez.

Timberlake tried to respond with a 3-pointer that struck the back of the rim. Andrea Crosariol's offensive rebound gave the Knights one more chance. After a timeout with 6.7 seconds remaining, Timberlake worked the left side, but his hurried 3 did not come close and landed in the hands of Dubois waiting underneath the basket as time ran out.

Jeff Xavier topped four Manhattan starters in double figures with 22 points. Dubois contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Devon Austin added 13 points. Klaiber paced Fairleigh Dickinson in the second NIT appearance in school history with 21 points.

Gonzalez said of the prospect of visiting Maryland: "It's exciting just to be playing in March and survive and advance and get another game for our young guys."

Wingate was the Jaspers' only senior starter.