Box Score

                BRIDGEPORT, Conn. –  Rakim Sanders scored 17 points while Keith Matthews added a season-high 13 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball fell to Loyola College by a 66-63 score. The Greyhounds closed the game with an 11-1 run over the final two minutes to take the three-point win.

                The pace of the opening minutes was furious as both teams ran the court and attacked the basket. Fairfield took the lead on its opening possession when Rakim Sanders knocked down a three pointer for a 3-0 lead.  After the Greyhounds cut the lead to a point, Ryan Olander found Sanders cutting to the basket for an easy slam dunk that posted a three-point edge at 5-2.

                Both teams took advantage of second chances in the opening 10 minutes allowing the game to stay close. With 9:48 left on the clock, the game was tied at 16-16. But of those points, Loyola scored more than half off offensive rebounds, netting nine second-chance points. Fairfield also fared well on the offensive glass with six second-chance points. At that point, Sanders returned to the game as well after missing nearly eight minutes because he picked up two fouls in the opening three minutes. He chipped in a couple of rebounds and a pair of points over the next three minutes .

                The score remained tied at 27-27 as both teams traded baskets and free throws to stay deadlocks with just under four minutes remaining.  The Stags used a quick one-two combination on consecutive possessions to pull in front at 31-27 after Keith Matthews dropped a hook in the lane and Derek Needham found  Sanders in stride for a fast-break layup.

Matthews brought the crowd to its feet when his put-back slam extended the lead to six points at 33-27. The run reached eight points after Matthews netted two free throws for a 35-27 lead.  Erik Etherly ended the Greyhound drought with a layup at the eight-second mark, sending the two teams into the locker room with the Stags in front at 35-29.

Fairfield was able to stop Loyola on the offensive glass, not allowing an offensive rebound over the final 10 minutes of the half. At the same time, the Stags took full advantage of Loyola's turnovers, scoring 14 points off 12 Greyhound miscues. Sanders led all Fairfield scorers with nine points, while Etherly was the Loyola leader with the same point total.

The Stags opened the second half with eight straight points to secure a 14-lead at 43-29. Sanders started the spurt with a layup which Desmond Wade and Ryan Olander followed with three pointers.  Justin Drummond made one of two free throws to break the Stags run at the 17-minute mark. Matthew raised the lead to 15 points with two free throws of his own, pushing his game total to 11 points.

Robert Olson collected Loyola's first field goal of the second half at the 14:32 mark, a three pointer that made the score 45-33. Anthony Winbush continued the Greyhounds' run with two free throws that brought them back to within 10. A Fairfield turnover followed by a foul put Etherly on the line, who converted both charity tosses to make it an eight-point game at 45-37 with 13:29 left.

                Sanders posted a free throw to stop the run and build the lead back to nine, but Dylon Cormer's three pointer brought the visitors within six points at 46-40. Fairfield recaptured its double-digit lead when Matthews made two free throws and Sanders scored down low. Olson put an abrupt end to the Fairfield streak with a thee pointer that brought it back to seven points at 50-43 with 10 minutes left.

                Foul trouble began to factor in when Olander picked up his fourth foul with nine minutes remaining, joining Maurice Barrow on the bench with the same number of fouls.  Loyola kept it going with back-to-back layups to close the gap to three points, 50-47. Wade responded with a three pointer and Matthew drew and offensive foul on the other end to give Fairfield back some of its momentum.
                The Stags continued to build their lead, which reached nine points after a Sanders three-point play made the score 58-49 with just under six minutes left.  Once again, Loyola challenged with four straight points for a 58-53 Stags advantage with 3:58 on the clock. Fairfield pushed the lead to seven points after a pair of Wade free throws with two minutes remaining.

                Loyola made another run at the Stags with a quick 4-0 spurt that included a long two pointer from Olson, bringing the Greyhounds within three points at 62-59 with 1:27 remaining. A turnover and a three pointer by Olson on the next possession tied the game at 62-62 with 1:17 left. Loyola fouled Wade on the inbound play and the junior made one of two attempts for a 63-62 advantage with 1:13 left.

                The Greyhounds took the lead with one minute remaining after Cormier put a couple of free throws in the basket, giving the visitors a 64-63 edge. Fairfield could not score on its next possession, and was forced to foul Walker with 26 seconds remaining.  The forward made one of two shots to give Loyola a two-point lead.

                Fairfield again missed down low, and after a Winbush rebound, gave Loyola another opportunity at the free throw line. This time, Winbush made one of two free throws to give the Greyhounds a three point lead at 66-63. Fairfield attempted a three pointer at the buzzer but the shot fell well short.