Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Jonathan Han scored a game-high 20 points, including 12 in the second half, to lift the Fairfield University men's basketball team to an 82-73 win over American University. The win halted the Eagles four-game win streak, and evened up the Stags record overall at 3-3.

 American started out the game with an early lead, as Frank Borden's three-point shot pushed the visitors in front at 7-5 with 17 minutes remaining in the first half. The lead reached four points on American's next possession, but the basket would the Eagles' last for nearly three minutes. That dry spell allowed the Stags to go on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 14-9 with 13:58 on the clock, the run ending off a Mike Evanovich three-point shot at 13:58.

Fairfield's first-half advantage would reach as many as eight points at 34-26 with 3:31 following Warren Edney's jumper. It was the Stags turn to turn a tad cold at that point, giving American the opportunity to get back into the game with a 9-1 run which tied the score at 35-35 with 1:47 on the clock. Frank Borden had four points in the stretch, the last of which was a dunk to tie the game.

Han nailed a three pointer on the Stags' next possession to regain the Fairfield edge at 38-35, but American would eventually tie the game at 40-40 on a last-second steal and layup by Steve Luptak as time expired.

The Eagles used the momentum of that last play in the second half to propel themselves to a five point lead in the first seven minutes of the second half, 51-46. Gilmore added five of the last seven points of that 11-6 run to pace the visiting team.

American remained in front until Ryan Olander's jumper tied the game for the fifth time at 54-54 with 9:44 remaining. The two teams traded one-point leads five times over the next four minutes with left American in front at 61-60 with 5:45 left in the second half.

Fairfield turned that one-point disadvantage and turned it into an eight-point lead over the next four minutes to take command at 72-64 with 1:33 remaining. Edney hit a three pointer with 4:17 on the clock to put the Stags in front for good during the run Han took over from that point, hitting all four of his free throws in the closing seconds to keep Fairfield in front as the Stags eventually won the game by nine points, 82-73.

Edney and Herbie Allen each reached double figures with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Anthony Johnson tallied 10 rebounds in the game and added five blocks, giving him nine in the last two games. Derrick Mercer paced the American offense with 19 points, while Gilmore added 16 markers to the cause.

Fairfield returns to action on Monday, December 1 when it travels to the College of the Holy Cross for a 7 pm tip off.