Dec 11, 2001
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Deng Gai scored a team-high 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked 10 shots, as Fairfield University (1-5 overall) posted its first win of the year with a 75-71 decision over St. Francis College (5-1). Gai tallied seven points and six rebounds in the second half, helping the Stags hold off a Terrier comeback bid.
St. Francis took an early lead on a pair of free throws by Bronski Dockery, making the score 5-4 with 18:39 remaining. The points were the start of an 8-0 run which gave the Terriers an 11-4 advantage with 17:46 remaining. The Stags started to chip away a few minutes later, using a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to regain the lead 14-13 with 13:08 remaining. The two teams traded baskets until the Stags eventually pushed in front for good on a pair of free throws by Sam Spann, giving the home team a 22-21 edge with 9:37 remaining in the half.
The Fairfield lead eventually reached 11 points at 43-32 with a minute remaining, before Dockery hit a jumper in the final minute to cut the lead to nine at intermission, 43-34. The Stags started the second half with a 10-2 spurt, inflating the advantage to 17 points at 53-36 with 15:50 remaining in the game. The Terriers carved into that lead with a 15-4 run, closig the gap to six points at 57-51 with 9:57 remaining. St. Francis never came any closer than six points, until the a three-pointer at the buzzer made it a four-point final deficit, as the Stags' lead hovered around 10 points over the next nine minutes.
Four Fairfield players reached double digits for scoring, as Sam Spann tallied a double-double with 16 poitns and 10 rebounds. Nick Delfico added 15 points, while Oscar Garcia netted 12 points for the Stags cause. St. Francis had three players score 10 or more points, led by Dockery's 22 points. Christopher Sockwell added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Terriers.
