Box Score

                JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Rakim Sanders and Ryan Olander both finished with a double-double as the Fairfield University men's basketball team defeated Saint Peter's College by a 75-63 score at the Yanitelli Center. Sanders finished the game with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds while Olander added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

                The two teams opened the game by basically trading baskets back and forth with Saint Peter's taking the lead on its first possession and remaining in front by a hoop at the first media timeout, 8-6 with 15:38 on the clock. It wasn't until Desmond Wade posted a three pointer from the top of the key that Fairfield took its first lead at 9-8.

However, Lamin Fulton answered with his own long-range jumper that put the Peacocks back in front at 11-9. Darius Conley added a jumper following a Fairfield turnover to give the home team a 13-9 advantage. After the Stags cut the lead in half, Conley added another pair of points to keep the lead at four points.

The Stags defense kicked in at that point and would keep the Peacocks scoreless for the next five minutes, allowing Fairfield to put together an 11-0 run that would give the visitors a seven-point edge at 22-15 with 10:39 remaining. Ryan Olander scored seven points during that run, including a three-point play at the 12:21 mark.

Saint Peter's stopped its scoreless streak when Yvon Raymond made one of two free throws to make the score 22-16. The Peacocks followed up with a basket from Blaise Ffrench to pull within four points, but back-to-back three pointers from Olander and Derek Needham gave the Stags their first double-digit lead at 28-18 with 7:53 on the clock.

Saint Peter's found its offensive touch over the final five minutes, outscoring the Stags by a 13-8 count to pull within five points by halftime, 36-31. Sanders led all scorers with 12 points in the first half, while Olander just missed a double-double in the opening 20 minutes with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Sanders opened the second half by scoring the first four points for either team, netting at pair of free throws at 18:25 and a layup at 17:51, which increased the team's lead to 40-31. Saint Peter's finally put points on the board at the 16:14 mark following a three-point shot from Chris Prescott, dropping the deficit to six points, 40-34. The Stags scored the next seven points when Needham made three free throws, Olander added a layup and Sanders made two more from the line, giving the team its biggest lead of the game at 47-34.

The Stags continued to build on its lead, gaining its biggest advantage at 17 points. Fairfield led by that many four different times, the last of which came after Wade's driving layup made the score 75-58 with 2:28 remaining. The Peacocks came as close as 12 which was the final margin.

Conley and Prescott each scored 12 points to pace the Peacocks attack.

Fairfield finishes its two-game road swing with a trip to Marist College on Sunday afternoon. Game time is 2 pm.