Feb. 5, 2007
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Jonathan Han tied his career high with 19 points, including the final five points of the game, to lead the Fairfield University men's basketball team to its seventh straight victory with a 65-62 decision over Loyola College. The Stags, who are enjoying their longest win streak since the 1985-86 season, erased a 10-point deficit with under four minutes remaining in the game.
"We won this game because of our players' energy," Head Coach Ed Cooley said after the game. "I looked in the huddle at a timeout and they were salivating. I am very proud of the way our guys played tonight. This team never gives up and is playing with confidence."
Both teams started the game well with Marquis Sullivan opening the scoring for Loyola on a jumper for a 2-0 lead. The Stags scored the next five points to take a three-point advantage at 5-2. There would be eight lead changes and five tied scores through the end of the first half, with Fairfield holding onto a 31-30 lead at intermission.
The Greyhounds defense locked down on Fairfield in the second half, holding the home team scoreless for the opening six minutes of the half. That defensive effort allowed Loyola to go on a 9-0 run to take its biggest lead of the game at that point, 39-31. Han broke the Fairfield scoring drought with a pair of free throws, a foreshadowing of good things that would come for the sophomore guard.
After seeing their lead fall to six points at 39-33, the Greyhounds went on a 15-7 spurt over the next four minutes that would push their lead to a game-high 14 points at 54-40 with 10:13 on the clock. Brett Harvey an d Gerald Brown each hit three-point baskets during the run for the visitors.
The lead remained at 14 points after the two teams scored on their next possession, making the score 56-42. Fairfield inched back into the game by first cutting the deficit to 10 points several times at 56-46, 58-48, 60-50, and 62-52. The last of those scores came with 3:33 showing on the game clock after Josko Alujevic laid the ball in the basket. The senior's layup would be the last Greyhound points in this game.
The Stags comeback began when Jonathan Han hit a three-point basket to cut the lead to seven points at 62-55 with 2:57 remaining. Devin Johnson tipped a cross-court pass and then gained control of the loose ball, which he passed over to Han. The sophomore was fouled with 2:46 remaining, and calmly netted the free throws following a media timeout which decreased the deficit to five points at 62-57.
Fairfield forced another turnover on Loyola's next possession, setting up a pair of free throws for Michael Van Schaick. The senior made the first of two charity tosses, but collected the offensive rebound. After a timeout, Fairfield's Herbie Allen hit a jumper inside the lane to make it a one-possession game at 62-60 with 57 seconds remaining. Brett Harvey was whistled for an offensive foul on the other end of the court, giving Fairfield the ball with a chance to tie the game.
Han did not settle for a tie, instead deciding to take a three-point shot from the right side of the floor. He made the shot to give Fairfield its first lead since the start of the second half.
"I had confidence in my shot after I hit that three-point shot earlier in the half," Han said. "Herbie (Allen) did a great job drawing a couple of defenders that gave me an open shot."
Gerald Brown missed a jumper on the Loyola end of the floor, and he quickly fouled Han to stop the clock with three seconds remaining.
The guard made both free throws to ensure that Loyola could not win the game in regulation, building a three-point lead at 65-62. Harvey's three-point shot at the buzzer did not fall, which completed Fairfield's improbable comeback.
Fairfield's Anthony Johnson recorded his first double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, which included seven offensive caroms. Van Schaick and Allen also reached double figures with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Four of Loyola's five starters scored in double figures as well, led by Brown and Sullivan's 12 points.
Fairfield returns to action on Thursday night when it plays Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Stags finish their two-game road trip with another meeting with Loyola on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. The game against the Greyhounds will be televised on the MSG Network.
