BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team dropped a 61-56 decision to Hofstra University in an ESPNU Bracketbusters game Saturday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Stags fall to 15-13 with the loss and the Pride improve to 18-9.

Fairfield opened the second half hitting its first three shots from the field, and going 3-3 from the line, to take a 33-29 lead with 17:17 to play in the contest.  Hofstra answered the run by scoring nine straight points, in a 3:34 span, to retake the lead, 38-33.

Ryan Olander was fouled with 8:51 to play, and his conventional three-point play gave the Stags a 43-42 advantage. Herbie Allen's free throw on the next possession made it 44-42.  With 8:18 to play, Cornelius Vines drained a three to put the Pride back ahead 45-44, the last points for the Pride for nearly five minutes

During that Hofstra drought, the Stags scored seven unanswered point, taking a 51-45 lead, including a three-pointer by Jordan as the shot clock expired with 5:48 to play.  Hawkins hit a pair of free throws with 4:20 left to end the Stags' run.

Fairfield did not hit another shot from the field until Mike Evanovich drained a three-pointer with 23 seconds to play, cutting the Stags deficit to a point, 57-56.  During the Stags drought from the field Hofstra scored 10 unanswered points, capped by a Vines three-pointer with 56 seconds to play, to put the Pride ahead 54-51.

Hawkins led all scorers for the Stags, finishing with 18 points, on 6-10 shooting from the field.  Allen finished with 15 points and Jordan tallied 10.  The Stags shot 41.3 percent from the field and 8-22 from behind the arc.

Hofstra was led by the 13 points of Vines and Charles Jenkins.  Zygis Sestokas was also in double figures, with 12 points.  Hofstra out rebounded Fairfield 35-24 for the game, shooting 40 percent from the field and 8-17 from behind the arc.

Fairfield scored off the opening tip, as Yorel Hawkins streaked to the basket and laid the ball home just six seconds into the contest.  The Stags hit five of eight shots to start the game, opening a 13-3 lead 5:55 into the game and led 19-10 on a free throw shot by Hawkins with 9:02 t play in the half.  Hofstra scored the next four points, on back-to-back possessions, and started a 17-4 run to end the half, taking a 27-23 lead into the locker-room.

The Stags return to action on Friday, Feb. 27, when they host Manhattan at the Arena at Harbor Yard.  Fairfield wraps up the regular season on Sunday, March 1 at Rider.