Feb. 8, 2007
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- First the basket counted as time expired. Then, the basket didn't count. Then, there was a foul. Then, the Fairfield University men's basketball team suffered a 65-64 loss to Marist College when James Smith made the second of two free throws with no time on the clock, ending the Stags' seven-game winning streak.
It was a sudden, unexpected flurry at the end of the game. Michael Van Schaick had just tallied the game-tying basket with 1:22 remaining. After Marist's Jared Jordan was whistled for an offensive foul, the Stags had a chance to take the lead with their next possession. Marty O'Sullivan's three-point shot glanced off the back rim and was controlled by Smith.
Jordan ran down the clock and made a move toward the basket. His shot glanced off the rim, but once again Smith came up big with the rebounds. He twirled inside the lane and put a shot up as the buzzer sounded. At first, the officials signaled the basket counted, but went to a television monitor to make sure the shot was good.
After watching the play, the decision was made that basket did not count, but a foul was called under the basket. Therefore, Smith went to the free throw line by himself with both teams waiting for the outcome at their respective benches. Smith's first shot hit hard off the back of the rim and bounded out. He stepped to the line for a second shot and calmly released a shot that touched nothing but net and ended the game.
Smith finished the game with impressive numbers, registering a double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. More importantly, the senior made several key rebounds down the stretch that prohibited Fairfield from second chance points.
The Stags received an outstanding performance on their end as well from Van Schaick. The senior continues to score points at an incredible clip, finishing tonight with 24 points in 40 minutes of work. He was one of four Stags in double figures, joined by Greg Nero's 13 points, Anthony Johnson's 11 markers, and Jonathan Han's 10 points.
The first half belonged to the home team, thanks to long-range shooting from practically everyone on the floor. Four different Red Foxes hit three-point baskets, including two from Smith. Marist built an eight-point lead by halftime (33-25), as the Stags fell behind by as many as 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
A quick start to the second half allowed Marist to take its biggest lead of the game at 11 points, 38-27, before Fairfield started a second-half run. The Stags outscored the home team by a 15-3 count over the next five minutes to take the lead for the first time since 11-10 six minutes into the game.
Fairfield's lead reached six points following a Nero layup that made the score 54-48 with 9:20 remaining in the game. Marist erased that deficit in a matter of minutes to tie the score at 54-54 with 6:58 remaining. Anthony Johnson's alley oop dunk put the Stags back in front at 56-54, but Ryan Stilphen's layup tied the game. The two teams traded baskets several times down the stretch with neither squad able to lead by more than two points in the closing minutes.
Stilphen finished the game with 18 points, while Jordan tallied 13 points.
The Stags return to action on Sunday when they travel to Loyola College for a 4 pm tip-off. The game will be televised on the Madison Square Garden (MSG) network.
