Box Score

                BUFFALO, N.Y. – Derek Needham and Rakim Sanders each scored 19 points to lead the Fairfield University men's basketball team to a 68-59 win over Canisius College, completing a two-game sweep on its Buffalo trip. The win improved Fairfield's overall record to 5-4 and its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference mark to 2-0. Needham scored 13 of his points in the second half.
                The Stags jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening minute before the Griffs came back to tie the game at 4-4. Rakim Sanders pushed Fairfield back in front with a three-point shot at the 16:52 mark, giving the Stags a 7-4 edge. The long-range basket started a 10-0 run for the Stags, which included a three pointer from Derek Needham, giving the visitors a 14-4 lead.
               
                With its lead still intact at 16-6, Alshwan Hymes single-handedly cut the gap to just four points with three pointers on back-to-back possessions, bringing the Griffs to 16-12 with 11:55 remaining in the half. The Griffs came as close as two points with two more baskets, making the score 16-14, before Olander, Desmond Wade, and Sanders scored consecutively to build the lead back to eight at 22-14.
 
                The Golden Griffs made another run which allowed them to pull within two points at 24-22, but once again the Stags had an answer.  Jamel Field stepped up and hit a three from the corner for a five-point lead. After a basket by Hymes, the Stags ran off five straight points to build the lead back to eight points. Fairfield eventually led by 10 points after a breakaway dunk by Sanders, making the score 34-24.
 
                Washington converted a three-point play, Manhertz added a layup, and Kevin Bleeker made a free throw to reduce the lead to four points at 34-30 by halftime.
 
                Fairfield opened the half with the first five points, four of which came from Sanders and improved the lead to nine points at 39-30. Canisius broke through with Hymes' three point shot but Barrow responded with a jumper to make the score 41-33. The Griffs had a chance to make a considerable dent in that lead when a technical foul was called on the floor, but Washington made only one of two free throws off the technical and the team turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, making the score 41-34.
 
                The Stags owned a double-digit lead for the second time after Barrow made one of two free throws for a 51-41 score. The Griffs put together another mini-run with seven straight points, including a three pointer from Gaby Belardo. Needham shut down the run with an NBA-range three pointer and added a layup off a steal for a 56-48 advantage.
 
                The home team put together five straight points that erased more than half of the deficit at 56-53 before Olander laid the ball in the basket to stop a four-plus minute scoring drought, making the score 58-53. Needham's driving layup provided Fairfield some comfort at 60-53 at the five-minute mark.
 
                The Stags' lead stood at five points at 64-59 before the Stags forced three straight turnovers which translated into a pair of free throws from Needham and two more from Fields for a 68-59 advantage, which would be the final score.
                Fairfield returns to action on December 9 when it plays Old Dominion University at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. The game is the fourth game of a quadruple header and is scheduled for a 9 pm start.