Feb. 17, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Kudjo Sogadzi scored a team-high 18 points in Fairfield University's (15-9 overall, 11-4 MAAC) 58-56 loss to Rider University. Nick Delfico was the only other Stag in a double-digits with 12 markers.
The Stags suffered through a slow start, which led to only four points in the first nine minutes of the game. The Broncs used that scoring drought to build a 13-point lead at 17-4 with 10:39 remaining in the first half. Fairfield made a run a few minutes later, a 10-2 spurt that closed the game to five points, 19-14. Oscar Garcia and Nick Delfico each tallied four points during that run, with Sogadzi netting a pair of free throws.
Rider slowly rebuilt its lead to 10 points, the last of which came at 29-19 with 1:52 left on the clock. Rob Thomson hit a pair of free throws, and Michael Bell scored on a lay up to close the half with a seven-point deficit, 29-22.
The Red and White scored nine of the first 14 second-half points to come within five points once again, 36-31. Delfico was responsible for six of those eight points, hitting a pair of jumpers as well as two free throws. Laurence Young single-handedly pushed the lead back to 10 points with a three-point shot and a basket, making the score 41-31 with 13:01 left in the game.
This time, it was Fairfield's turn to put together a run, and it did so with six straight points - four from Dewitt Maxwell and two from Terrence Todd - to pull within four points, 41-37. Rider scored a pair of points on free throws from Paul Johnson, before the Stags came back with six more points to tie the game at 43-43. Sogadzi broke that tie with a jumper, which gave Fairfield its first lead of the game, 45-43 with 4:49 remaining.
The two teams traded baskets two more times, resulting in two more ties, before Jerry Johnson's three-point basket with 3:47 remaining put Rider in the lead for good. The Broncs never led by more than five points from that point. Fairfield had one last come back bid, at it pulled within a point at 57-56 with 36 seconds left. Johnson made one of two free throws with 22 seconds left, making the score 58-56. Sogadzi's running jumper with one second remaining fell off the rim, ending the Stags hopes.
Johnson led all scorers with 21 points, making six of 12 shots and three of five three-pointers. Young also reached double-digits with 12 markers.
