Jan. 12, 2007
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - A pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining was the difference in another tight game for the Fairfield University men's basketball, as the Stags came up one point short in a 64-63 setback to Rider University at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Freshman Greg Nero led all Fairfield scorers with 14 points, one of five Fairfield players to reach double figures in the game.
The Stags led for almost the entire game, including all but a couple of minutes of the first half. After falling behind 8-5, the Stags tied the game on a three-point basket by Michael Van Schaick and grabbed the lead on the next possession following a three pointer from Herbie Allen. The two long-range baskets started 13-3 run that would push Fairfield in front by an 18-11 count at the 6:49 mark. The Stags would remain in front at halftime after a pair of free throws by Jonathan Han gave them their six point lead at intermission, 29-23.
The Broncs started the second half with seven straight points and took the lead on the final basket during that run, a layup by Jason Thompson with 18:10 remaining. Van Schaick halted the run with a three pointer to make the score 32-30, but it was a short-lived lead. Terrance Mouton nailed a three-point basket from the top of the key to make it 33-32. After Nero made two free throws, Mouton again hit a three pointer to give Rider a 36-34 advantage.
Fairfield put together a 15-8 spurt over the next four minutes to improve on its halftime lead by a point, 49-42, with 9:29 on the clock. The lead reached its peak at 11 points, 55-44, after Marty O'Sullivan laid the ball in the basket at the 7:14 mark. Rider tallied the next seven points in a 45-second span to make the game interesting at 55-51. A pair of O'Sullivan free throws and an Allen three pointer pushed the lead to nine points at 60-51. But once again, Rider made a run at the Stags by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to tie the score at 62-62 with 1:19 on the clock.
With 25 seconds on the clock, the Stags made one of two free throws to take a slight edge at 63-62. Rider received three opportunities to score on its final possession, the third of which led to a pair of free throws for Joel Green. Green made both charity tosses with 1.9 seconds remaining to give Rider its first lead since 15:23 mark of the second half.
Van Schaick's half-court shot fell short as the buzzer sounded, earning Rider the come-from-behind win. Van Schaick and O'Sullivan each tallied 12 points for the Stags, while Allen and Han added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Mouton led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Harris Mansell's 15 markers.
Fairfield returns to action on Sunday when it travels to Iona College for a 3:30 game.
