Dec. 8, 2006
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Jonathan Han scored a team-high 13 points and added three assists without a turnover in Fairfield University's 57-54 loss to Manhattan College at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Friday night. Han was one of three Stags in double figures for the game, joining Michael Van Schaick and Herbie Allen with 10 points each.
Fairfield never trailed in the first half with its biggest lead coming at the six-minute mark with a 17-9 advantage. Anthony Johnson had a big role in building that lead as the freshman tallied eight of the team's 17 points during that stretch. Manhattan used a 10-4 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead down to two points, 21-19 after Frank Traore hit a pair of free throws with 2:31 on the clock.
Allen quickly answered with a pair of free throws for the Stags, but Devon Austin continued the free throw parade with two of his own for the Jaspers which made the score 23-21. Allen returned to the line and netted one of two tosses to push the lead to three points, but that lead was slashed to one point when Antoine Pearson grabbed an offensive rebound and put the shot back up for two points, giving the Stags a one-point advantage at halftime, 24-23.
Geoff Middleton opened the half with a basket to give the Stags a three-point edge, but a 4-1 spurt by Manhattan tied the score at 27-27 with 16:32 on the clock. The score would remain tied at 29-29, 31-31, and 34-34 before Pearson connected on a pair of free throws with 11 minutes remaining which gave Manhattan its first lead of the game at 36-34.
The Jaspers remained on top for nearly five minutes before the Stags finally caught them at 42-42 after Anthony Johnson scored one of two free throws with six-plus minutes remaining. Van Schaick regained the Fairfield lead with two more charity tosses to make the score 44-42. It would be the last lead the Stags would hold in the game, as Manhattan went on a 5-0 run off three points from Patrick Bouli and a layup from Darryl Crawford.
Fairfield would come as close as one point at 52-51 after Van Schaick's three-point basket with 19 seconds remaining. Pearson made four straight free throws on successive possessions to give the Jaspers their five-point lead once again. Han made things interesting with a three-point play on Fairfield's next possession with five seconds left. Bouli was fouled on the in-bounds play and made one of the two free throws, giving the Stags one last chance with four seconds remaining.
The ball was thrown in to Marty O'Sullivan, who found Van Schaick 25 feet from the basket. The senior's three-point attempt was off target as the buzzer sounded, which allowed Manhattan to escape with the three-point win, 57-54.
Pearson led all scorers in the game with 14 points, while Bouli and Austin each added 13 markers for the Jaspers.
Fairfield returns to action on Sunday, December 10 when it hosts Canisius College at the Arena. Game time is slated for 4:30 pm.
