Dec. 2, 2002
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Freshman Terrence Todd scored a game-high 15 points, including six of the team's 15 points in overtime, to lead Fairfield University (1-2 overall) to a 69-60 win over the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Todd made all four of his free throw attempts in the extra period, as Fairfield made 11 of 13 free throws in overtime.
The Seahawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind three free throws by Brett Blizzard and a basket by Craig Callahan. It took Fairfield four minutes to finally erase UNC-Wilmington's quick start, tying the score at 9-9 with 15:06 remaining in the first half. Sophomore guard Tyquawn Goode tallied five points during that 9-4 run. Fairfield hung with the Seahawks for the next eight minutes, never trailing by more than four points and tying the score three times.
Nick Delfico's three-point jumper with 6:52 remaining in the first half pushed Fairfield into the lead for the first time at 23-21. The three-pointer started a 9-0 run for the Stags, giving the team a solid eight-point lead at 29-21 with 4:53 left in the half. The lead would eventually reach nine points, 33-24, before the home team settled for an eight-point half time advantage, 37-29.
Fairfield's lead evaporated in the first five minutes of the second half, as Blizzard and Callahan each netted a three-pointer while Tim Burnette added a three-point play in an 11-2 run. A free throw by Goode evened the score at 40-40 with 14:30 remaining in regulation. Callahan buried a three-pointer at the top of thekey for a 43-40 advantage, the last UNC-Wilmington lead of the game.
Kudjo Sogadzi tied the score on the Stags' next possession, and a pair of free throws by Delfico placed Fairfield in front at 45-43 with 11 minutes left. After lay-up by Burnette tied the game, Fairfield scored nine of the next 11 points for a 54-47 advantage with 5:42 left. However, Fairfield would not score the remainder of the half, allowing the Seahawks to tie the game when Burnette made one of two free throws with 22 seconds remaining. Both teams had an opportunity to win the game down the stretch, but Delfico's and Callahan's three-point shots fell off the rim.
Fairfield's scoring drought hit seven minutes before Todd drove the lane and dropped in a five-foot jumper with 3:44 remaining in the game. The Stags never trailed from that point, with the lead reaching nine points twice including the final score.
Blizzard, who averaged 23 points per game coming into the game, did not score a basket in the final 15 minutes of regulation or in overtime, thanks to strong defense by freshman Michael Bell. Blizzard did make two of three free throws with 2:58 left in regulation, finishing with 16 points. Burnette led all scorers with 17 points. Oscar Garcia added his career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
