Jan. 30, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- All five Siena College starters scored in double-digits, combining for 70 of the team's 74 points as the Saints (13-6 overall, 7-3 MAAC) posted a 74-71 victory over Fairfield University (12-7 overall, 8-2 MAAC). Tommy Mitchell led all scorers with 22 points, making all 12 of his free throws in the game.
Freshman Terrence Todd scored Fairfield's first five points of the game, allowing the Stags to hold a slight edge at 5-4. The Saints used a 10-2 run over the next two minutes, six of which came on back-to-back three-point baskets by Antoine Jordan. Siena pushed the lead to a game-high 14 points at 23-9 with 11:45 remaining in the half, following a two-point basket by Michael Haddix.
Still trailing by 14 points at 27-13, Fairfield began its come back with a 12-2 spurt which lasted six minutes, making the score 29-25 with 2:59 on the clock. Tyquawn Goode started the run with a three-point basket, and four other Stags each scored a basket during the come back. Siena gained a little breathing room with a pair of free throws by Justin Miller, but back-to-back layups by DeWitt Maxwell and Rob Thomson pulled the Stags within a basket at half time, 31-29.
Fairfield began the second half by scoring seven of the first nine points, highlighted by Kudjo Sogadzi's three-pointer which put the Stags ahead, 36-33. Mitchell quickly erased that lead with a three-point basket on the Saints' next possession, tying the score at 36-36. Siena would score the next eight points, four of which were tallied by Haddix.
The Stags were not finished though, and battled back to tie the score at 54-54 on a three-pointer by Goode. Fairfield also went six-for-six from the free throw line in that mini-run. The Stags gained their final lead of the game when Todd hit a running one-hander with 3:27 remaining, making the score 60-59. Prosper Karangwa hit a three-point basket with four seconds on the shot clock, lifting Siena back into the lead at 62-60. The score was tied three more times over the next two minutes, the last of which came at 66-66 with one minute on the clock, before Karangwa's layup with 43 seconds gave Siena the lead for good.
Fairfield made a valiant effort to tie the game in the closing seconds, as Terrence Todd's three-pointer made the score 72-71 with four seconds left. Karangwa hit a pair of free throws to make the lead three points. Deng Gai caught Nick Delfico's three-quarter court pass, but his three-point shot fell off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Todd led all Fairfield scorers with 18 points, while Maxwell netted 10 points and six rebounds by making all three field goal attempts and all four free throw tries.
