Jan. 26, 2003
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Oscar Garcia scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, lifting Fairfield University (12-6 overall, 8-1 MAAC) to a 79-57 win over Saint Peter's College (5-12, 2-7). Deng Gai also contributed to the cause with 14 points, nine rebounds and six blocks.
The game was never really in doubt, as Fairfield grabbed a double-digit lead just four minutes into the game. After the Peacocks' Devin Thompson opened the game with a basket, the Stags answered with 12 straight points for a 12-2 advantage with 16:24 remaining in the first half. Saint Peter's pulled with nine points on a couple of occasions, the last of which came at 17-8 with 14 minutes remaining. However, Gai made one of two free throws to push the lead back to double-digits at 18-8. The Stags never led by less than 10 points from that point in the game.
Fairfield built a 19-point lead at half time, 49-27, behind an eight-point effort by both Garcia and Gai. Saint Peter's cut into that lead slowly but surely, pulling within 14 points at 66-52 with 5:57 remaining in the game. Fairfield scored the next five points, two points coming from both Gai and Tyquawn Goode, making the score 71-52 with three minutes remaining. The Red and White tallied eight of the final 13 points to win the game by 22 points.
Nick Delfico came off the bench to tally 10 points, his fifth game of 10 or more points as a reserve. The Stags outrebounded Saint Peter's by 15, 46-31, and blocked eight Peacock shots. Thompson paced the Saint Peter's cause with a double-double, registering 12 points and 11 rebounds. Keydren Clark, who came into the game averaging better than 26 points per game, was held to 12 points on five of 21 shooting from the floor.
