Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Derek Needham scored a game-high 14 points and Warren Edney added 12 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team dropped a 68-53 decision to Rutgers University. 

The Stags made a go of it in the first 10 minutes of the game, staying within a couple of points for most of that period. Jonathan Mitchell put Rutgers up on the team's first possession, hitting a three-point shot just 14 seconds into the game. Fairfield answered with back-to-back baskets to take its first lead of the game at 4-3 as Edney tallied all four points. A pair of free throws put Rutgers back in front at 5-4, but Edney and Needham each scored on the next two possessions to give Fairfield a three-point lead at 8-5. 

The Scarlet Knights would come back to tie the game at 10-10 at the 14:23 mark before Yorel Hawkins pushed Fairfield back in front for the final time at 12-10 with 13 minutes on the clock. A lay up by Mitchell and a three-point shot by Mike Coburn swung the lead back to Rutgers at 15-12. 

Fairfield would whittle the lead back to points at 23-21 with seven minutes remaining in the half after Edney scored his 10th and 11th points of the half with a jumper. The home team answered with six straight points to take its biggest lead to that point at 29-21 with 3:18 on the clock. The eight-point advantage would stand at halftime as Rutgers went into the locker room with a 35-27 lead.

Rutgers started the second half quickly, scoring the first eight points of the period over 63 seconds to double its halftime advantage, 43-27. Fairfield would never come closer than 10 points the rest of the way, which came at 46-36 with 14 minutes remaining. The Stags had trouble getting inside throughout the second half, resulting in five of their six second-half field goals to come from behind the arc. Only Needham managed to score inside the arc during the second half.

Ryan Olander secured seven rebounds to go along with his four points and two blocks. Mitchell led all scorers with 15 points, while Coburn added 14 points for the Scarlet Knights.

The game was part of the Philly Hoop Group Classic, which will continue for the Stags on Tuesday, November 23 when they host Saint Joseph's University at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The final game of the Classic comes on November 25 as the Stags take on Norfolk State at the Palestra. Game time is 5:15 with the Rutgers-Saint Joseph's game following at 7:30 pm.