Dec. 22, 2002
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- DeWitt Maxwell came off the bench and tallied his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, as Fairfield University (4-3 overall) defeated American University (3-5 overall) by a 68-57 margin.
Matej Cresink opened the game with a three-point field goal, pushing American in front, 3-0. The Stags used a 12-5 run over the next eight minutes for a 14-8 advanted with 10:27 remaining in the first half. The Eagles scored the next 10 points of the game to take its biggest lead of the half at 18-14, as Cresnik scored five points during the run. Fairfield battled back from the deficit, finally tying the game at 23-23 when Maxwell made one of two free throws with 48 seconds left. The half ended with the two teams tied at 23.
The two teams traded baskets on their first possessions of the second half, a basket by Fairfield's Oscar Garcia and a layup by American's Andres Rodriguez, before Tyquawn Goode's three-pointer gave the Stags a 28-25 lead. American scored the next four points on jumpers by Cresnik and Rodriguez, pushing the Eagles back in front at 29-28. Kudjo Sogadzi added a pair of free throws with 16:51 giving Fairfield the lead for good a 30-29.
The Stags led by as many as 13 points in the second half, 47-34 with 9:35 remaining in the game, before settling on the 11-point victory. Garcia and Terrence Todd each added 14 points for Fairfield, with 10 of Garcia's points coming from the free throw line. American's Glenn Stokes led all scores with 18 points, hitting six three-point baskets in 12 attempts during the game.
After starting the season with an 0-2 record, Fairfield has won four of its last five games with its loss coming to DePaul University on the road.
