Jan. 19, 2007
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Michael Van Schaick scored a career-high 27 points, five of which came in the final minute of play, to propel the Fairfield University men's basketball team to a 72-67 win over Siena College at the Times Union Center. Van Schaick tallied a game-tying three-point basket and added a pair of free throws on the next possession to put the Stags in front for good.
Fairfield battled back with eight or nine point runs throughout the game that often erased Siena leads. The Saints held an 18-6 advantage with 11:29 remaining in the first half, before Fairfield answered with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 18-15 at the 9:40 mark. A three-point basket by Marty O'Sullivan and Van Schaick along with a three-point play by Devin Johnson accounted for the Fairfield run.
The Saints eventually turned that three-point edge back into a double-digit lead at 30-20 with 1:31 remaining, but the Stags closed the half with a 10-0 sput that tied the game at intermission. Van Schaick started the run with a three-point basket, his third of the half, followed by a layup by Anthony Johnson. Van Schaick added three free throws when he was fouled going up for 20-footer that cut the lead to 30-28 with nine seconds left. After Siena missed a jump shot, Devin Johnson was fouled on the rebound and promptly made a pair of free throws to tie the score.
Siena started the second half in similar fashion, using a three pointer and a layup to jump in front at 35-30 just 30 seconds into the half. The Stags battled back to tie the game at 43-43 on a three-point basket from O'Sullivan and again at 46-46 off a three pointer from Herbie Allen. The home team followed Allen's basket with a 10-1 run that enabled it to regain control at 56-47 with nine minutes on the clock.
Fairfield still trailed by nine points with five-plus minutes on the clock at 64-55, but Van Schaick's three pointer started the Stags' comeback that would prove to decide the game. Van Schaick cut the lead to five points by making one of two free throws, which made the score 64-59. Anthony Johnson's steal and slam dunk on the break continued the run, pulling Fairfield within three points, 64-61.
Michael Haddix followed the Johnson dunk with his own basket, pushing the lead back to five points. However the Stags finished the game with a 10-1 run that turned things in their favor. Van Schaick was instrumental in the come-from-behind win, hitting a three-point basket to tie the game at 66-66, and adding two free throws to give Fairfield its first lead since a 4-3 advantage in the first half.
David Ryan made one of two free throws for Siena to make the score 68-67, but Jonathan Han made it a three-point edge for the Stags with a pair of free throws. After a botched three-point attempt by Siena, Mamadou Diakhate was fouled and netted a pair of free throws to ice the game with three seconds left.
O'Sullivan came off the bench to score 10 points for Fairfield, joining Van Schaick as the team's two double-digit scorers. Haddix earned a double double for the Saints with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
The Stags committed just two turnovers in the second half, finishing the game with 11 miscues. Fairfield returns to action when it hosts Iona College at the Arena at Harbor Yard next Tuesday night. The game marks the start of a three-game home stand that includes Saint Peter's on January 26 (7 pm) and Niagara on January 28 (1:30 pm).
