Dec. 11, 2004
BRONX, N.Y. - Michael Bell came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points in Fairfield University's 84-68 loss to Fordham University. The junior netted 16 of those 18 markers in the second half, as the Stags outscored the Rams by 11 over the final 20 minutes.
The game started innocently for the Stags, as they erased a 3-0 deficit with an alley oop dunk from Deng Gai and a three-point basket by Terrence Todd. Fairfield kept the lead over the next five minutes, the last of which was 9-8 with 15:23 remaining in the first half. Mushon Ya'Akosi pushed Fordham in the lead with a layup at 10-9 on the team's next possession, a lead that the Rams would never surrender.
Fairfield stayed with Fordham for the next nine minutes, trailing by seven with 6:26 remaining, 24-17. Gai scored off a lay up on the team's next possession, cutting the lead to five points. The basket would be Fairfield's last for the half and for the first four minutes of the second half, a span of nine-plus minutes.
While the Stags had trouble scoring, the Rams continued to pile on the points. Fordham went on a 33-0 run during the Fairfield drought, which pushed the lead to its biggest margin at 57-19 with 17:46 left in the game. Bell broke the scoreless run for Fairfield with a three-pointer from the left corner, making the score 57-22 with 16:21 on the clock.
The Red and White's never-say-attitude allowed them to slowly work their way back into the game. The lead was cut from a high of 38 points to 17 points following a pair of free throws from Alvin Carter, making the score 71-54. Fordham ended any Fairfield hopes with eight straight points to run the deficit to 25 points.
Rams freshman Bryant Dunston led all scorers with 24 points, 14 of which came from the free throw line. He was one of five Fordham players to reach double figures, including Marcus Stout's 14 points off the bench. Terrence Todd was the only other Fairfield player to reach double digits, netting 11 points to compliment his team-high five assists.
