Feb. 16, 2004
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Rob Thomson secured his seventh double double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds, helping Fairfield University erase a 19-point halftime lead en route to a 70-65 win over Niagara University. DeWitt Maxwell also recorded a double double with 15 points and 10 rebound, while Mike Bell scored all 16 of his points in the second half.
The Purple Eagles built an 18-4 lead over the first seven minutes of the first half. David Brooks led the Niagara charge with seven points, as six different players scored during the run. The visitors did not stop there, pushing the advantage to 23 points with 4:14 remaining in the first half. The Stags managed to trim some of the deficit, making the score38-21 with 1:28 left until halftime. A fastbreak dunk by Tremmel Darden added two more points to the lead, giving Niagara a 40-21 advantage at intermission.
Fairfield wasted little time in beginning its come back run, outscoring Niagara by a 13-4 over the first 4:28 of the second half which placed the score at 44-34. Bell was almost completely responsible for the spurt, scoring 11 straight points after Thomson opened the second half with a layup. After Thomson's basket, Bell hit back-to-back three pointers and added a traditional three-point play during his run.
Niagara added a Darden basket for a 12-point lead, but Fairfield scored the next six points to cut that lead in half, 46-40. Alvin Carter scored the final four points with a pair of free throws and a basket. Juan Mendez's three-point play provided a little breathing room for Niagara at 49-40. Niagara regained its double digit lead after Alvin Cruz's three-point shot made the score 55-45 with 10:53 remaining.
Fairfield went on a 15-4 run from that point, and took its first lead with 5:25 left on the clock off Tyquawn Goode's three-point basket from the corner. With a one-point lead with 39 seconds left, Bell and Goode iced the game with a pair of free throws each, providing the final margin.
The win represented Fairfield's largest come back of the season. The Stags trailed George Washington by 17 points overall and 14 points with four minutes to go, before coming back to win the game in overtime, 75-67 on December 23.
Brooks led all Niagara scorers with 17 points, followed by Juan Mendez and Darden with 16 and 11 points, respectively.
