Nov. 12, 2004
The Stags never trailed in the first half, thanks to a tenacious defense that kept their opponent off balance for the opening 20 minutes. Fairfield took the lead for the first time when Todd hit a three-pointer at the top of the key just 100 seconds into the game. Mississippi State scored five of the next seven points to tie the score at 5-5 with 16 minutes remaining in the first half.
The Red and White answered with a quick 5-0 spurt thanks to a jumper from Gai and a three-pointer from Tyquawn Goode to take control at 10-5. Fairfield eventually built its advantage to eight points, 24-16, with 1:22 left on the clock. The Bulldogs' defense cut that deficit in half by the end of the half. After scoring off a layup, the defense forced a turnover which allowed the team to score a pair of free throws and finish the half just four points off the lead, 24-20.
Mississippi State started the second half with four points in the opening minuite,as layups by Marcus Campbell and Gary Ervin made the score 24-24. Fairfield responded with its own four-point run to regain its halftime advantage of four points, as Todd and Gai tallied the baskets for the Stags. A three-point play and a basket by Ontario Harper gave Mississippi State its first lead of the game at 29-28 with 16:19 remaining on the clock.
The resilient Stags did not fold despite the Bulldogs comeback, and again made another run at their nationally-ranked foe. A putback basket by DeWitt Maxwell and a three-pointer from Mike Bell gave Fairfield another four point lead, 35-31. Gai added another basket at the 10:30 mark, but it would be the last field goal for the Stags until Goode stole the ball off Ervin and laid the ball in the basket with 1:09 remaining. Fairfield stayed in the game with its free throw shooting, scoring six points from the charity stripe.
Three point baskets by Ervin and Winsome Frazier were pivotal plays, with Frazier's trey giving the Bulldogs a seven-point lead in the closing minutes. Again, Fairfield's defense gave it hope as a pair of steals led to points. But, time ran out on Fairfield's comeback hopes and resulted in a four-point loss.
Eight different Fairfield players scored in the game. Mississippi State outrebounded the Stags by three caroms, 39-36. Fairfield held Mississippi State to 29 percent from the field in the first half, but the Bulldogs rebounded by hitting 57 percent of its shots in the second half.
The Red and White returns to action on November 12 and plays Alabama A & M in a consolation game. Game time is slated for 6 pm CST.
