Jan 5, 2002
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jeremy Logan came off the bench to score 18 points, but it was not enough as the Fairfield University men's basketball team lost to American University by a 68-67 count.
American never trailed in the game, often holding a double-digit lead throughout the game. The Eagles connected on their first nine field goal attempts of the game,which helped the home team open a 10-point lead early in the game. Fairfield trailed by 16 points with six minutes remaining in the game, 35-19, before the Stags used a 10-3 run over the next five minutes to cut the deficit to single digits. A last second tip-in by Patrick Doctor gave American its double-digit lead back, and a 40-29 halftime advantage.
Another early run by American enabled it to recapture its 16-point lead at 50-34 with 15 minutes remaining in the contest. A seven-point run by Fairfield, all scored by Kudjo Sogadzi, trimmed the lead to nine points once again, 50-41. Once again, American built the lead to 15 points on a three-point play by Doctor and a three-point basket by Nick Boyd. The Stags turned to their long-range shooters to climb back into the game, as Jeremy Logan sandwiched two three-pointers around a three-point basket by Sogadzi, making the score 56-50 with eight minutes remaining.
American went back ahead by 10 points, 63-53 with 4:55 left on the clock, and remained ahead by nine points at 67-58 with three minutes remaining. However, Fairfield had one more run in store for the Eagles. After Doctor made one of two free throws for a 68-60 lead, Fairfield chipped away at the lead by forcing four turnovers in the final 51 seconds. The Stags scored on baskets from Logan and Sam Spann as well as on a pair of free throws from Ajou Deng, making the score 68-66. After Spann made one of two free throws to make the score 68-67, the Stags forced another turnover to regain the ball with 18 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, Deng's three-point attempt bounced off the rim with two seconds left, ending the Stags comeback hopes.
Spann finished with 12 points, while Sogadzi had 11 markers for the Stags. Vladimir Buscaglia paced the American offense with 14 points, while Steven Miles and Andres Rodriguez each added 12 markers.
