Dec. 8, 2001
New York, N.Y. -- Nick Delfico scored a career-high 19 points, one of four Fairfield players in double-digits, but DePaul still managed to edge out the Stags by a 94-90 score in the first game of the MAAC Challenge.
The Stags fell behind early, as DePaul scored nine of the first 12 points in the game. Trailing 9-3 with 15 minutes left in the first half, Fairfield put together a 9-2 run to take its first lead of the game at 13-12. DePaul recaptured the lead on Andre Brown's layup on the next possession, but Delfico's layup placed the Stags back in front, 14-13 with 12:34 left in the half.
The Red and White eventually raised its advantage to five points at 23-18, as Delfico hit three-point baskets on back-to-back possessions to help the Stags' cause. DePaul battled back to tie the score at 31-31, but a 6-2 spurt placed the Stags in front by four points. Jeremy Logan scored a pair of free throws, while Rob Thomson added a basket and two charity tosses during the run.
DePaul rallied to tie the game at 39-39, the first of three ties in the final two minutes of the half. The Blue Demons took their first lead since early in the half on Marlon Brooks' buzzer-beating three-pointer to make the score 48-46 at intermission.
Fairfield fell behind by seven points after surrendering five points to open the half. DePaul's lead reached as many as 10, 74-64, with nine minutes remaining. Quemont Greer scored seven points during that Blue Demon run. However, the Stags fought their way back into the game, tying the game at 85-85 with two minutes left in the game. The Red and White made 11 straight free throws during that stretch, including four Delfico.
DePaul scored the next six points to take command 91-85 with 26 seconds left. Kudjo Sogadzi's three-pointer with 17 seconds cut the lead in half, 91-88. But, Drake Diener and Brown combined for three free throws in the closing moments to keep Fairfield's comeback hopes at bay.
Oscar Garcia, who received his first start of the season, and Sam Spann each scored 13 points, while Thomson netted 11 markers for the Stags. Brown led the Blue Demon cause with 24 points, while Marlon Brooks tallied 14 points in the win.
