HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Four Fairfield University players scored in double digits, lifting the Stags to a 70-60 win in the first round of the Rainbow Classic. The Stags will face Pepperdine University, an 82-69 winner over American University, in the semi-final round of the tournament. Game time is slated for 10 pm EST.
The Red and White led for most of the game, but never had a lead larger than nine points in the first half. The Falcons kept whittling away at the Fairfield advantage, but could never find a way to take control of the game. Bowling Green led just once in the game, 15-14 in the first half, and managed just two ties in the second half.
After the second tie at 29-29 with 17:23 remaining, the Stags took the lead for good when Michael Bell hit a base-line three-pointer for a 32-29 advantage. Fairfield built a seven-point lead on two occasions, but Bowling Green continued to battle back with small runs to stay in the game.
The Stags saw their lead dwindle to three points at 54-51, but Tyquawn Goode hit a top-of-the-key three pointer to push the lead back to six points. Goode scored eight points in the final three minutes, which enabled the junior to finish up with a season-high 12 points. The guard made three of five three-point shots in 21 minutes off the bench.
Deng Gai scored a team-high 17 points in the game, followed closely by Rob Thomson's 16 markers. Thomson just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Terrence Todd continued his streak of double-digit scoring games, netting 13 points with six rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes of work.
Josh Almanson scored a game-high 19 points for Bowling Green, which included two three-point baskets.
