Jan. 28, 2007
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Head Coach Ed Cooley may not have been the first to say it, but he's certainly the first to advocate it. Watch this year's edition of the Fairfield University men's basketball team and you'll see just what he's talking about it. Defense wins games, and the Stags proved that with their 68-56 win over Niagara University at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
The Stags held the Purple Eagles to 33 percent from the field, including 29 percent in the first half, and 18 points under their season scorin average. It was during the first half that Fairfield took control of the game. Niagara opened the game with a basket off a Rydell Brooks jumper, but that lead was quickly erased after Jonathan Han hit a three-point field goal for a 3-2 edge. Clif Brown pushed the Niagara back in front with a layup at the 17:25 mark.
Anthony Johnson answered with a slam dunk, which Michael Van Schaick followed with a layup on the next possession for a 7-4 lead. .Brooks tied the game with a three-point shot at the 14:49 mark to tie the game for the first time. Anthony Johnson's follow of his own shot regained the lead for the home team, but the game was tied again thanks to Greg Noel's only basket of the game.
Van Schaick scored the next four points with a basket and a pair of free throws on consecutive possessions which placed Fairfield in the lead at 13-9, a lead which the Stags would not give up the rest of the way. The home team kept the pressure on with a 14-7 run that gave the team its first double digit lead at 27-16 with 5:24 remaining in the half. Niagara answered with a 9-2 run that cut the deficit to four points at 29-25. The Stags scored the final five points of the half off a three pointer by Van Schaick and a pair of free throws by Herbie Allen, making the score 34-25 at intermission.
The two teams traded baskets for the start of the second half as the nine-point lead remained intact at 36-27 with 18 minutes to go. Greg Nero laid the ball in the best at the 17:47 mark to push the lead back to double figures, where it remained the rest of the game. Fairfield led by as many as 17 points in the game at 52-35 with 12 minutes on the clock, its biggest lead of the afternoon.
Anthony Johnson led all Fairfield scorers with 16 points, while Michael Van Schaick and Herbie Allen followed with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Clif Brown was the Purple Eagles top scorer with 16 points, and completed his double double with 14 rebounds.
