Jan. 8, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Nick Delfico scored a career-high 23 points by making nine of 12 field goal attempts, as Fairfield University (7-5 overall, 3-0 MAAC) remained the only unbeaten team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 72-60 win against Loyola College, Md. (3-8, 0-3). Fairfield starts the conference season with a 3-0 record for the first time since the 1985-86 team won its first seven conference games en route to a 13-1 MAAC mark. The win was Fairfield's fifth straight home victory.
The Stags never trailed in the game, scoring the first two points of the game off lay ups by Oscar Garcia and Kudjo Sogadzi. Fairfield eventually built its lead to nine points with a 7-2 run, with five of the points coming from Deng Gai. Trailing 11-2, Loyola crept back into the game with an 8-0 spurt, as four different Greyhound players scored a pair of points.
Delfico sparked the Stags a few minutes later, scoring five points, picking up a pair of rebounds and an assist which helped the team recapture its nine-point advatage at 25-16. Once again, the Greyhounds fought their way back into the game, pulling back within two at 34-32 with 5:43 remaining in the half. Two three-point baskets by Bobby Bossman highlighted Loyola's run. But, the Stags finished the half with a flourish, outscoring the visitors by a 10-3 count to push the lead back to nine points at halftime, 44-35.
The Fairfield lead reached double-digits when Oscar Garcia hit a jumper to start the second half, making the score 46-35. Loyola never came closer than six points - 52-46 with 12:06 remaining in the game. The Stags led by as many as 16 points during the second half, before settling for the 12-point win.
Tyquawn Goode enjoyed his best overall game as a Stag wi th tying his career high with 11 points and setting personal bests with nine assists and five steals. Garcia (13 points) and Gai (12 points) also reached double-digits for Fairfield. Bernard Allen and Bossman paced Loyola's offense with 13 points each.
