Box Score 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A strong second-half surge helped the Fairfield University men's basketball team turn a nine-point halftime deficit into an eight-point victory over American University on the road.

Greg Nero scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half, while Jonathan Han tallied nine points and dished off five assists over the final 20 minutes. Han also finished the game with 15 points, one more than Anthony Johnson's 14 markers.

The Stags opened the game with four quick points off layups from Nero and Warren Edney. American answered with seven straight points to take the lead at the 12:53 mark. The Eagles never trailed again in the first half, building a lead that reached as many as 11 points. After Fairfield cut the lead to two points following a three-point play by Han, American put together a 9-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 27-16 with two minutes remaining in the half.

Fairfield scored five of the final eight points in the half to keep the halftime lead under double digits at 30-21 after Mike Evanovich netted three free throws and Anthony Johnson made a jumper .

The Stags took control in the second half but reeling off 14 straight points to start the 20-minute period which erased the nine-point deficit into a five-point lead at 35-30. American battled back to tie the game at 37-37, and the score remained tie at 43-43 with eight minutes remaining in the game.

Nero scored the next five points of the game to push the visitors back in front at 48-43, an advantage that they would keep the rest of the way. American managed to keep the game close, trailing by only two points with two minutes remaining, 48-46, but Fairifeld scored the next four points to make it a two-possession game with 48 seconds remaiing.

Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer led the American attack with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Fairfield returns to action when it hosts Sacred Heart University on Sunday, November 18 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The doubleheader starts at 4:30 pm with the women's game, followed by the men's contest at 7 pm. Prior to the men's game, the University will honor Bill Gonillo, the long-time news director at News 12 who passed away suddenly in September.