Feb. 6, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Kudjo Sogadzi tallied a team-high 18 points, while Oscar Garcia added 17 markers in Fairfield University's (13-7 overall, 9-2 MAAC) 72-68 win over Canisius College (8-13, 4-8). Sogadzi scored 15 points in the second half, including a run of 12 straight points.
The Stags jumped out early and took a 3-0 lead on Sogadzi's three-pointer on the opening possession. Fairfield held the lead until Canisius pulled ahead briefly at 8-7 with 15:42 remaining. The Red and White scored regained the lead at 11-10 on Nick Delfico's layup. Fairfield led almost the rest of the first half, with the exception of a 24-22 deficit with five minutes on the clock. The home team used a 10-2 spurt to take its biggest lead of the half at 32-26, before Kevin Downey's three-pointer cut the lead in half to make the score 32-29 at halftime.
Canisius scored six of the first eight points of the second half to recapture the lead at 35-34 as Downey's jumper pushed the Golden Griffs in front. The Griffs continued to build on the edge, raising the lead to five points at 47-42. Downey hit another three-pointer during the Canisius run.
Nick Delfico sparked Fairfield's come back with a pair of layups as part of a 7-0 run to give the Stags the lead, 49-47 with 8:37 remaining. After Canisius tied the score at 49, Terrence Todd and Garcia scored back-to-back baskets which gave Fairfield the lead for good. Sogadzi made sure that the Fairfield lead remained in tact. After Garcia's basket, Sogadzi tallied the team's next 12 points, six of which came on consecutive three-point shots. With Sogadzi's help, Fairfield's lead reached as many as seven points, 63-56.
The Golden Griffs made one more run at the Stags, pulling as close as two points in the final seconds, but Fairfield made seven of nine free throws in the final 47 seconds to secure the victory.
Deng Gai finished the night with 11 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. The effort was Gai's fifth straight game with five blocks. Delfico came off the bench to score 10 points on the evening. Four Canisius players reached double-digits in the game, led by Downey's 16 points.
