Jan. 21, 2004
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Terrence Todd scored a career-high 24 points, hitting three of four three point attempts in the process, but the Fairfield University men's basketball team still came up short to Manhattan College, 63-60. Rob Thomson added his second straight double double and fourth of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Todd's only three-point miss came with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game, as the ball went halfway down the basket before popping out. The hoop would have tied the game, and completed another improbable comeback by the Stags. Fairfield trailed by eight with one minute to go in regulation, when Kudjo Sogadzi scored on a layup to make the score 58-52.
A pair of free throws by Luis Flores pushed the lead back to eight points with 47 seconds left on the clock. Todd hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to close the gap to five points, 60-55. Mike Konovelchick added another pair of free throws with 30 seconds remaining, giving the Jaspers a 62-55. Todd answered with another three-point basket, narrowing the margin to 62-58.
Kenny Minor made one of two free throws, providing the Stags with an opening. Michael Bell's layup with 12 seconds remaining made the contest a one possession game with 12 seconds left. The Stags were forced to foul Flores, who made all 14 of his free throws to that point, with 10 seconds left. The senior missed both free throws, the second of which was rebounded by Todd.
The guard went down court and pulled up from 20 feet and let go a shot that would have tied the game. The ball was on target, but bounced off the back rim and out, preserving the Manhattan win.
Fairfield started the game quickly, scoring eight of the first 12 points to take an early lead. Manhattan answered with a 10-2 run which pushed the Jaspers in front by a 14-10 margin. Manhattan never trailed the rest of the first half, eventually building its lead to seven points at halftime, 27-20.
The Stags cut into that first half deficit pretty quickly, beginning the second half with a 10-3 run, making the score 31-30 with 16 minutes remaining in the second half. The Jaspers remained in front by a point at 42-41, until Todd made two free throws to give Fairfield the lead with nine minutes remaining. Konovelchick came down court on the next possession and hit a three-point basket, which gave the visitors the lead at 45-43. Todd's layup tied the score again at 45, before Flores added free throws to give Manhattan the lead for good at 47-45.
Flores finished the game with 24 points, making just four of 13 shots from the floor. Michael Bell was the third Fairfield player in double digits with 10 points.
