Jan 3, 2002
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Ajou Deng registered his second straight double-double with 26 points and 19 rebounds, leading Fairfield University to a 77-69 win over Canisius College (1-8 overall, 0-3 MAAC) on the road. Deng netted nine of 13 shots from the field, including three of four three-pointers, and added six assists and two blocks in 37 minutes of work.
Fairfield started the game quickly, scoring the first seven points of the game en route to a 10-2 advantage. Deng tallied five points during the run, including a three-pointer, while Sam Spann added three markers. The Stags kept the lead until the 10 minute mark, as Canisius tied the game at 15-15 following a offensive put back by Richard Jones. Canisius enjoyed a five point lead just two minutes later, 22-17, before the Stags responded with their own run.
The Red and White went on an 11-2 run to recaptured the lead 28-24 with 3:42 remaining in the half, following a steal and layup by Kudjo Sogadzi. Canisius eventually regained its advantage with a 10-2 run, making the score 34-30. However, Sogadzi hit a buzzer-beating three pointer to make the deficit just one point, 34-33 at intermission.
After blocking just one shot in the first half, the Stags rejected nine shots in the second half which helped the team come back several times. Canisius led by as many six early in the second half, 45-39, before Fairfield mounted its comeback. The Stags used a 15-2 run over the five minutes to regain its early seven-point lead at 54-47. Sogadzi had five points, while Deng Gai and Spann both added four points in the string.
The Golden Griffs fought their way back into contention, cutting the lead to two points at 58-56 with 6:20 remaining. But, Fairfield used a 9-2 run to take command 67-58 with 1:45 remaining. Ajou Deng tallied the final five points of that streak, including his third three-pointers.
Sogadzi finished the game with 16 points, while Spann added 14 markers for the Stags. Hodari Martin netted 18 points, while Dewitt Doss tallied 17 markers to aid the Canisius cause.
