Dec. 2, 2003
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Deng Gai recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough for the men's basketball team to overcome Fordham University. The Rams posted a 72-69 victory in overtime, handing Fairfield its first loss of the season.
Michael Haynes recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and scored what proved to be the game-winning points in the closing seconds for the Rams.
Fairfield sent the game into overtime in dramatic fashion as sophomore Michael Bell hit a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to make the score 59-59. Fordham tried to set up a game-winning shot, but Mushon Ya-akosi's shot came after the buzzer.
Bell put the Stags ahead by making one of two free throws in the opening seconds. Jermaine Anderson put the Rams in front with a fast-break layup to make the score 61-60. Rob Thomson put Fairfield back in in the lead for the final time with an offensive put back at the 3:28 mark. John Blackgrove put Fordham ahead for good with a three-point shot, his third of the game.
Fordham led by as many as six points, 68-62, with 1:10 left on the clock, but Fairfield made a valiant comeback. After the visitors made just two of four free throws, Terrence Todd helped the Stags back into the game with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer in a 7-2 Fairfield run to make the score 70-69. Haynes made a pair of free throws with nine seconds left, making the lead three points. Bell missed a three-point attempt to tie the game, but the Stags retained possession when the ball was knocked out of bounds with 2.1 seconds left. Fairfield in bounded the ball to Tyquawn Goode, but his shot never made it to the basket.
The Stags enjoyed a five-point halftime lead, 30-25, which grew to as many as 12 points in the second half, 39-27 thanks to a 9-2 run to start the second half. Rob Thomson scored four points, while Goode added a three-pointer during the run. Fordham went on a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to cut the lead to four points, 41-37. Fairfield pushed the lead back to seven points following Todd's traditional three-point play, and retained the lead until Fordham tied the game at 51-51 with 4:46 remaining.
The Rams never led until there were 36 seconds left on the clock, as Blackgrove made one of two free throws for a 57-56 lead. Mark Jarrell Wright added a pair of free throws for a 59-56 advantage, setting up Bell's heroics at the close of regulation.
Todd added a season-high 18 points to the Fairfield cause. Jarrell-Wright had a double-double for the Rams, registering 23 points and 11 caroms.
