Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Derek Needham scored a season-high 27 points, while Maurice Barrow added a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds as the Fairfield University defeated Rider University by a 65-57 count at Alumni Gymnasium. The Stags (13-4 overall) moved into a first-place tie in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings with Iona College with a 6-1 record.

Rider grabbed the lead on its first possession when Brandon Penn hit a jumper just seven seconds into the game. Needham made his first shot of the game, a three pointer which gave the Stags a 3-2 lead just eight seconds later. Mike Ringgold regained the lead for Rider with a layup, but Needham answered once again with his second three-point field goal for a 6-4 lead.

Needham built on his team's lead with a running one-hander in the lane that completed his own personal 8-0 run that doubled up the Rider score at 8-4. Jamel Fields was the first Stag not named Needham to score when he made an elbow jumper to push the score to 10-4. Rider put together a mini-run that allowed it to come within two points at 12-10 with 13:46 remaining after Justin Robinson took the ball to the hoop for the home team.

The Broncs stayed within two points at 19-17 with 10 minutes remaining, but Fairfield scored eight of the next 10 points to take its biggest lead to that point at 27-19 at the 7:38 mark. Rider scored the next four points to cut the deficit in half at 27-23 after Penn and Danny Stewart put together consecutive layups. The Stags went on a 7-0 run to take a double-digit advantage at 34-23, as Lyndon Jordan and Colin Nickerson each netted a three pointer during the run.

Rider pulled within six points after a layup by Steward and a three pointer from Novar Gadson, but Needham connected on his fourth three pointer of the half to give the Stags a 37-28 lead at intermission. Needham finished the half with a season-high 16 first-half points by hitting five of his six field goal attempts.

The Broncs spent the first four minutes of the second half behind the three-point arc and made the most of it. Penn made a three pointer on the team's first possession, which was answered with a pair of points from Barrow. Gadson added another three pointer to make the score 39-34 with 17:36 remaining.

The Stags defense kicked in from that point and kept Rider off balance for the next six minutes, allowing just four points during that time. Fairfield was able to build the lead back up to eight points at the 11:40 mark, holding a 46-38 advantage. The Broncs scored seven straight points, with the big blow a three-point basket from Jon Thompson, to whittle the lead down to three points at 46-45 with 9:27 on the clock.

Needham nailed a three pointer to stop the Rider run, giving his team a 49-45 lead. After a defensive stop, Hawkins was fouled on his foul-line jumper, allowing him to add one more point to the lead at 50-45. Justin Robinson scored on a jumper, and added a three pointer after a steal on Fairfield's next possession to tie the game at 50-50 with 7:21 remaining.

Barrow made one of two free throws to push the Stags back in front at 51-50. Gadson knotted the game by making one of his two free throws, making the score 51-51 with five minutes remaining. The Stags retained the lead after Hawkins made a top-of-the-key jumper for a 53-51 edge. Ryan Olander scored his first points of the night with 3:24 remaining for a 55-51 lead, but Gadson came right down court and laid the ball in to cut the lead in half at 55-53. Once again, Needham answered with a three-point shot to improve the lead to five points, 58-53 with 2:32 on the clock.

Barrow made a critical one-and-one opportunity that gave the Stags a seven-point lead at 60-53 with two minutes remaining. Rider came as close as four points, but could not pull any closer.

The Stags held Rider to its second-lowest point total of the season, one game after the Broncs tallied 96 points against Iona. Gadson led all Rider scorers with 17 points.