Feb 14, 2004
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Michael Bell scored a team-high 15 points with a career-high seven rebounds in Fairfield University's 65-61 overtime loss to Canisius College at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Stags' six-game win streak came to an end with the loss, the team's longest win streak of the season.
The Golden Griffs sent the game into overtime by outscoring the Stags 5-0 in the final 28 seconds of regulation, as Jon Ferris' three-point basket with five seconds remaining was the tying hoop.
Canisius jumped out to a 6-2 lead on back-to-back three-point baskets by Toby Foster, the first of five treys on the afternoon for the senior. Faifield fought its way into the lead thanks to Bell, who scored eight points on three consecutive possessions for a 12-8 advantage. Bell's points would be the last for more than six minutes, as Canisius used a 6-0 spurt during the drought to regain the lead at 14-12.
Kudjo Sogadzi hit a three pointer from the top of the key to push the Stags back in front, 15-14. But, Yaku Moton-Spruill tossed in a couple of free throws on Canisius' next possession to put the Griffs back in front. Fairfield tied the score at 17-17 following a fast-break lay up by Michael Van Schaick. The Golden Griffs wasted little time breaking that tie with a Kevin Downey three-point basket for a 20-17 lead. The visitors managed to cling to a one-point lead at intermission, 21-20.
Canisius opened the second half with four quick points on back-to-back jumpers from Darnell Wilson, making the score 25-20 with 18:45 left in regulation. Fairfield answered with six straight points for a 26-25 lead, as Sogadzi scored the first four points and Rob Thomson added a lay up to complete the run. Fairfield eventually secured a four-point lead at 32-28, but Canisius tied the game on two free throws from Chuck Harris and a basket from Ferris.
After falling behind by six points at 40-34, Fairfield used a 14-2 run to take its biggest lead of the half, 48-42, with 3:41 left in regulation. Freshman Marty O'Sullivan was instrumental during those four minutes, hitting two three pointers and a short jumper for eight points.
Fairfield held a five point lead with 28 seconds remaining in the second half, but a lay up from Darnell Wilson cut the lead to three points. Two missed free throws by the Stags set up Ferris' game-tying three-point shot with five seconds left in regulation, making the score 52-52 after 40 minutes of action.
Canisius never trailed in the overtime period, leading by as many as six with a minute remaining. Kevin Downey scored six points in overtime for the Griffs, including four free throws in the final 10 seconds to ice the victory. Downey finished with 13 points, but Wilson was the team's leading scorer with 17 markers.
