Jan. 9, 2007
LEWISTON, N.Y. -- Three Fairfield players scored in double figures, led by senior Michael Van Schaick's 18 points, in the Stags 85-76 loss at Niagara University on Wednesday night. It marked the fifth straight game in which Van Schaick led the team in scoring. Herbie Allen and Greg Nero also reached double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Stags started quickly courtesy of back-to-back three-point baskets by Rich Flemming and another three pointer from Van Schaick that pushed the visitors in front by a 9-2 count. Fairfield's lead reached eight points at 16-8 with 14:05 remaining in the half, but Niagara came right back with a 12-4 run that tied the score at 20-20 with 10 minutes on the clock.
Niagara kept the streak going with another six points to move in front at 26-20 after a three-point basket from Lorenzo Miles and a three-point play by Charron Fisher. Fairfield regained the lead with seven straight points off a three-point basket from Jonathan Han and four free throws by Allen. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, with Niagara gaining a slight edge at intermission, 37-36.
The Purple Eagles opened the second half with a 12-7 run that gave the team its biggest lead at 49-41. Three three-point baskets were included during that Niagara run, a trend which would see the home team tally nine long-range jumpers in the second half and 15 overall for the game.
The Stags came within five points when Nero tipped in a missed field goal attempt to make the score 53-48 at the 13:12 mark. But, Fairfield would not come any closer the rest of the way, spending a good portion of the final 10 minutes in a double-digit deficit.
Charron Fisher scored a game-high 27 points, while Lorenzo Miles added 19 points and Tyrone Lewis came off the bench to contribute 18 points. Anthony Johnson collected a game-high nine caroms for the Stags.
