Jan. 5, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- They say that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. That's okay with Head Coach Tim O'Toole, just as long it hits at sometime during a basketball game.
For the second straight game, the Stags overcame a second-half deficit and won the game in the closing seconds. This time, Jonathan Han hit a runner in the lane with 26 seconds remaining to give Fairfield the lead for good in an 81-79 win against Siena College. On December 30, Terrence Todd won the game with four ticks on the clock in a 66-65 win over Cal State Northridge.
The Saints led for nearly the entire game, taking their biggest lead when David Ryan's basket to start the second half pushed the advantage to 14 points at 51-37. From that point, Fairfield fans were witness to the never-say-die attitude to which they have become accustomed during Coach O'Toole's tenure.
Fairfield rattled off the next nine points to cut the lead to a manageable five points at 51-46 with 16:25 remaining. DeWitt Maxwell tallied four points, while Han added a three-point basket during the run. Siena pushed the lead back to double figures less than a minute later with five quick points from Mike Beers, as he tallied a three-point play and a pair of charity tosses to make the score 56-46. After trading baskets with the visitors, Fairfield used its own 5-0 spurt to cut the lead in half, 58-53 with 13:40 on the clock.
The lead was still at five points with nine minutes remaining in the second half, 65-60, but it was at that moment that things started to swing the Stags way. A three pointer from Han and a layup from Maxwell on the next two possessions tied the score at 65-65. Siena regained a slight advantage at 72-69, before a Todd jumper and a pair of free throws from Maxwell gave Fairfield its first lead of the game at 73-72 with 2:30 remaining. Todd added another jumper to provide a three-point cushion for the Stags at 75-72.
Antoine Jordan's three-point basket on the next possession quieted the crowd briefly, knotting the score at 75-75. Ryan made one of two free throws on the Saints' next possession, making the score 76-75. After the free throws, Fairfield set up a play in the half court, setting up Han's runner with 14 seconds on the shot clock, giving the home team a 77-76 edge. Tay Fisher missed a three-point try with 14 seconds left, which was rebounded by Michael Van Schaick. The junior was fouled immediately with eight seconds left in the game, and calmly sank both free throws to raise the lead to three points, 79-76.
Coach O'Toole decided to foul Siena in the back court on the next two possessions, not allowing the Saints a game-tying shot. The strategy worked to perfection, and enabled the Stags to post the victory.
Maxwell finished the game with a double double, netting 18 points and securing 10 rebounds in 38 minutes. Todd (14 points) and Han (11 points) also reached double figures for the Stags. Jordan led all scorers with 19 points for Siena, one of five Saints in double digits for the game.
