Courtesy of FairfieldStags. com.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Four Fairfield University players scored in double figures, led Sean Crawford‘s season-high 19 points, as the men’s basketball team posted a 79-75 win over Niagara University at Gallagher Gymnasium on Friday night.
The Stags opened the game with five straight points courtesy of a layup from Ryan Olander and a three-point shot from Derek Needham. Niagara put together a run of seven straight points to take its first lead of the game, the last of which were a result of Marvin Jordan’s three pointer for a 7-5 advantage at the 17:31 mark. The Stags tied the game on Maurice Barrow‘s basket, which was followed by Olander’s layup for a 9-7 lead.
Fairfield raised its advantage with an 8-5 spurt that gave the visitors their biggest lead to that point at 17-12 with 11:57 on the clock. Sean Crawford scored the last three points of that spurt, which triggered a personal run of nine points for the guard which allowed the Stags to increase their lead to 25-19 with eight minutes remaining. The Purple Eagles responded with an offensive put back by Skylar Jones to pull within four points at 25-21. A steal and a behind-the-back pass by Crawford led to a three-point play by Sanders to improve the Stags advantage to 28-21. Crawford continued to apply the pressure with another steal and a pair of free throws to make the score 30-21 with seven minutes on the clock.
An unusual four-point play by Marvin Jordan, a three pointer plus a foul shot, nearly cut the Stags lead in half at 30-25 before Barrow’s offensive rebound and basket pushed followed by Olander’s dunk on back-to-back possessions rebuilt the lead to nine points at 34-25 with 5:36 remaining. The Stags’ lead reached as many as 13 points at 47-34 with two minutes left in the half, before the Purple Eagles scored the final seven points of the half to cut the deficit to 47-41 at intermission.
Fairfield opened up a seven-point lead early in the second half at 53-46 after Sanders netted a pair of free throws. Niagara took advantage of a couple of turnovers and converted those miscues in to five points to pull within a point at 53-51 with 14 minutes on the clock. Sanders stopped the streak with a pair of hoops on successive possessions to make the score 57-51 with 12 minutes left. After Antoine Mason was whistled for an offensive foul, Jamel Fields nailed a three-point shot to increase the lead to nine points at 60-51.
Once again, Niagara answered the Stags run by recording seven consecutive points to make it a two-point deficit at 60-58 with eight-plus minutes on the clock. Fairfield responded with six points of its own as Barrow made one of two free throws and added a basket on another possession to make it a 63-57 advantage. Fields contributed with another three pointer to push it to eight points at 66-58.
Jordan was fouled while taking a three-point shot but converted just one of the three opportunities, giving Niagara a seven-point deficit to overcome at 66-59. After a Sanders layup, Fairfield recaptured its double-digit advantage with 2:39 remaining after Needham tallied his fourth three pointer of the game for a 71-59 advantage.
The Purple Eagles managed to pull within seven points after Juan’ya Green’s drive to the basket cut the lead to 75-68. Green brought the Purple Eagles back to within two points by scoring seven points but it was Crawford who stepped to the line and iced the game with four free throws in six attempts to keep the Stags in front.
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