Jan. 23, 2007
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Ok, so it may not have been drawn up that way. But the result was exactly what Head Coach Ed Cooley had in mind. The ball was supposed to end up in senior Michael Van Schaick's hands for the final shot. Instead, Van Schaick fought through a double-team and tossed the ball to Mamadou Diakhate, who calmly tossed in his first career three-point basket to send the game into overtime. And, it was Diakhate's steal and ensuing free throw that iced the game for the Stags as they defeated Iona College by a 70-67 count in overtime for the second time in 10 days.
"Coach called the play that Shake (Van Schaick) was supposed to come off a screen for the open shot," Diakhate said. "But when he came around the screen, he didn't have an open shot. He passed the ball to me in the corner. I knew that time was winding down, and someone had to shoot it, so I did."
Much to the delight of the 2,000-plus fans, Diakhate's shot touching nothing but net to tie the score at 62-62 with two seconds on the clock. Iona's Milan Prodanovic tossed a desperation shot from midcourt, but the ball banged off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.
It was no easy task to get to Diakhate's shot, as the Gaels held several leads throughout the second half. No lead was bigger than the halftime lead of eight points, which grew to 10 points on a pair of free throws before the game resumed. The Stags were whistled for a technical foul at the end of the first half to set up the charity tosses by Prodanovic.
But Coach Cooley has instilled a never-say-die attitude that has taken effect over the last few games. And this game would be no different as the Stags scored the next 11 points to take the lead at 38-37 with 16:20 on the clock. Van Schaick nailed two three-point baskets during the string, while Anthony Johnson put Fairfield in the lead with a pair of free throws to end the run.
The Stags remained one point in front at 42-41 with 13 minutes remaining after Jonathan Han's dunk off a steal. The Gaels put together their own 10-0 spurt over the next three minutes to take control at 51-42. Two free throws by Marty O'Sullivan and Van Schaick preceded a lay up by Diakhate which capped a 6-0 run and closed the gap to 51-48.
Prodanovic's three-point basket on the next possession pushed the lead back to six points at 54-48, but seven straight points to hold a one-point advantage at 55-54. The lead lasted just 20 seconds because Anthony Bruin lay up gave the visitors another lead. Anthony Johnson made one of two free throws to tie the game at 56. The game was still tied at 58-58 when Devon Clark hit a pair of free throws for a two-point Iona lead. A
After Van Schaick connected on a free throw to pull within one point, Alejo Rodriguez's put-back layup gave Iona a three-point lead at 62-49 with 29 seconds remaining. The three-point margin was quickly erased when Diakhate's three pointer tied the game from deep in the corner.
Iona opened the overtime with five straight points, beginning with Mike Harris' three-point shot. Once again, the Stags fought back to take the lead, scoring the next six points. O'Sullivan's lay up started the string, followed by a highlight-reel dunk by Anthony Johnson. Fittingly, Diakhate ended the run with a layup that put Fairfield in front for good.
Van Schaick finished the contest with a game-high 23 points, his second straight 20-point performance. Han also reached double figures for Fairfield with 11 markers. Four Iona players scored in double digits, led by Clarke's 18 points.
The Stags continue their home stand with Friday's game against Saint Peter's College, the second game of a doubleheader. The women's team takes on Niagara at 4:30 pm. Both games will be televised live on ESPNU.
