Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Warren Edney scored a team-high 16 points while Derek Needham added 11 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team fell to Saint Joseph's University by a 60-51 score at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The game was part of the Philly Hoop Group Classic as well as a National Jesuit Spotlight game.
The Stags led almost from start to finish in the first half with only a jumper by Saint Joseph's Langston Galloway on the opening possession preventing a wire-to-wire lead. After Galloway's basket, Fairfield scored the next nine points to take command at 9-2. Warren Edney scored four of those points while Derek Needham added a three-point shot during the run.
The Hawks answered with a 7-2 spurt that closed the gap at 11-9 with 12:07 on the clock. Two points from Galloway and a three pointer from Carl Jones provided the offense during that stretch. Fairfield quickly rebuilt its lead to seven points at 18-11, the last of the run coming off another Needham long-range jumper.
Fairfield's lead reached as many as 10 points at 23-13 with four minutes remaining. Edney tacked on five straight points with a jumper and a three pointer at the end of the Fairfield run. The lead remained at 10 points with three minutes remaining, 25-15, but Saint Joseph's scored the final four points to make the score 25-19 at intermission.
The second half started auspiciously for the Stags as Saint Joseph's scored off its first possession and proceeded to force two straight turnovers that translated into four more points and tied the score at 25-25.
The two teams traded baskets on the next four possessions to keep the score tied at 33-33 with 13:45 on the clock. Fairfield finally received a little breathing room by scoring four of the next five points that opened up a three-point edge at 37-34 following a dunk from Yorel Hawkins. Saint Joseph's scored the next four points that gave the visiting team its first lead since the opening possession at 38-37 with 10 minutes remaining.
Edney came back down the court and stroked a three-point shot that pushed the Stags back in front by two points, 40-38. The two point lead was still intact until Ronald Roberts and Galloway scored back-to-back to give the Hawks a two-point edge at 44-42 with seven minutes remaining. A three-point play by Colin Nickerson allowed the Stags to secure a one-point lead at 45-44 before C.J. Aiken changed the score in Saint Joseph's favor at 46-45 with 3:25 on the clock.
The lead went to six points with 90 seconds remaining at 51-45 after a free throw, a steal and a lay up and drive to the basket completed a 7-0 run for the Hawks. Needham ended Fairfield's five-minute drought by hitting one of two free throws that closed the gap to five points at 51-46 with 58 seconds left.
Saint Joseph's pushed the lead to seven points when C.J. Aiken was fouled after Needham's missed free throw and made both charity tosses to preserve the win. Fairfield made things interesting when Hawkins hit a three-point shot with 27 seconds left to close the gap to six points.
Fairfield's defense forced a turnover on Saint Joseph's inbound pass, but the Stags turned it right back over after a traveling call. Saint Joseph's scored on the next possession to push the lead to eight points at 59-51 with under 10 seconds remaining.
Fairfield will get back to the hardwood on Friday, November 26 when it plays Norfolk State University in its final game of the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The game will be played at the Palestra in Philadelphia with the game time slated for 5:15 pm. Rutgers and Saint Joseph's will play the second game of the doubleheader at 7:30 pm.
