Feb. 12, 2005
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Terrence Todd scored a game-high 24 points and added seven rebounds and four assists in Fairfield University's 78-74 loss to Niagara University at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Todd made 10 of 14 shots from the field, and tallied 15 points in the first half.
Fairfield never led in the game, as the Purple Eagles started with Alvin Cruz's lay up off the opening tip just four seconds into the contest. Deng Gai tied the game on Fairfield's first possession with a jumper, before Juan Mendez pushed Niagara back in front at 4-2. DeWitt Maxwell knotted the score at 4-4 with his first two points of the game, the last time the two teams would be tied until the final two minutes of regulation.
Niagara took its biggest lead to that point when David Brooks hit a three-point shot with 18:21 remaining in the first half, making the score 7-4. The lead reached five points when Mendez added a pair of free throws for a 9-4 advantage, which Todd quickly cut into with a pair of free throws.
The Purple Eagles used a 7-2 spurt to gain an eight-point advantage at 14-6, three of those points coming on Mendez's three-point basket. The Stags began to cut into that lead when Todd grabbed an offensive rebound and placed the ball into the basket. Fairfield continued to whittle away at the Niagara lead over the next five minutes, creeping to within three points at 25-22 with 9:51 on the clock.
Niagara doubled up the Stags offensive output over the next eight minutes, outscoring the home team by a 23-11 margin which allowed it to secure a 48-33 lead with one minute remaining in the half. Fairfield hit a late basket to head into the locker room down 13 points, 48-35.
Fairfield held its own for the first eight minutes of the second half, still trailing by double figures, 59-47, with 13:30 on the clock. The Stags mounted a serious come back bid from that point, cutting the lead in half at 67-61 with 5:57 remaining. Although Niagara countered with a brief run that ran the lead back to seven points at 70-63, Fairfield responded with a quick 5-0 burst on a Maxwell lay up and a Todd three pointer.
The Stags eventually tied the game at 74-74 off a pair of Gai free throws, but would not score in the final 98 seconds of the game. Mendez pushed Niagara back in front with an eight-foot jumper with 1:09 remaining. After both teams turned the ball over on their next possession, Fairfield went to tie the game with 45 seconds remaining. Todd cut to the basket and the ball rolled around the rim and out. But an official blew the whistle and the crowd of 3,213 were disappointed when an offensive foul was called.
David Brooks converted the two free throws off the offensive foul, icing the game at 78-74. All five Niagara starters reached double figures, as the Purple Eagle bench managed just six points. Mendez was the visitors' top scorer with 18 points, followed by Alvin Cruz's 16 markers.
Gai finished up the game with 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Michael Bell came off the bench to tally 13 points for the Fairfield cause.
The Stags return to action on Wednesday, February 16 when they host Rider University at 7:30 pm.
