BUFFALO, N.Y. – Derek Needham scored a team-high 19 points while Yorel Hawkins added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Fairfield University men's basketball team to a 67-60 win over Canisius College. The Stags improved to 14-4 overall and 7-1 in MAAC play with the win.

The Stags led through most of the first half, the two exceptions coming in the opening minutes. Elton Frazier made one of two free throws on the Griffs first possession, but a jumper from Ryan Olander gave the Stags their first lead of the game at 2-1. Robert Goldsberry scored off a fast break lay up that made the score 3-2. Needham netted his first points of the night with a three-point shot pushed the Stags back in front at 5-3. After Canisius tied it on its next possession, Needham tallied back-to-back three pointers to give Fairfield its biggest lead at 11-5.

Fairfield still had a five point lead after Hawkins scored off a jumper for an 18-13 advantage with 11 minutes remaining. The Griffs responded with five straight points to tie the game at 18-18. The visitors rebuilt their six-point lead at 30-24 with three minutes remaining, as Lyndon Jordan's lay up completed a 12-6 run. Canisius tied the game with six unanswered points to make the score 30-30 with under a minute remaining. Fairfield ended the half with a Hawkins' tip-in, sending the Stags into the locker room with a 32-30 lead.

Canisius opened the second half with a 7-2 spurt that erased its two-point deficit and transformed it into its biggest lead of the game at 37-34. The Golden Griffs still held that three-point edge at 47-44 with 11 minutes remaining as Alshwan Hymes' lay up kept the lead intact.

The Stags defense, which entered the game ranked second in the nation for scoring defense, clamped down on the home team from that point. Canisius did not score another point for nearly eight minutes, setting up an 11-0 Fairfield run. The run gave the Stags a 56-47 advantage with 2:44 on the clock. Needham and Jordan each scored four points during the stretch.

Canisius came as close as five points with 47 seconds remaining, but the Fairfield defense once again shut down the Griffs in closing seconds to win the game.

Gaby Belardo led all Canisius scorers with 15 points.

Fairfield will complete its four-game road swing with a Sunday afternoon game against Niagara University. Tip off is slated for 2 pm. The game will be telecasted on WCTX-Channel 59, the New Haven My9 affiliate.