Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Desmond Wade netted a three-point field goal with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation to provide the Fairfield University men's basketball team with a 54-52 win over the University of Bridgeport in an exhibition game Friday night. The Stags erased a 14-point halftime deficit to pull out the come-from-behind victory.

The reason for the win came from a solid defensive effort by the Stags, limiting the visitors to just 13 points over the final 14 minutes of the game. Trailing by a 41-28 margin at the 14:07 mark, the Stags more than doubled up the Purple Knights with a 26-11 run that resulted in the two-point victory.

Fairfield chipped away at the lead slowly and eventually took its first lead of the game with 2:11 remaining as Derek Needham made a three pointer that made the score 49-48. Bridgeport responded with four straight points off layups from Dion Waiters and Lloyd Antoine on successive possessions. Needham cut into that run with a pair of free throws that brought the deficit back to one point at 52-51 with 40 seconds left.

Bridgeport had two opportunities to add to its advantage but a missed layup and a miss on the front end of a one-and-one kept the game at one point with 12 seconds left. With no timeouts remaining, Fairfield played the ball off Keith Matthews' rebound, setting up the deciding play. The Stags played around the perimeter looking for the open shot, which was eventually realized by Wade at the top of the key with under three seconds left. When the ball went into the basket, the Stags had their biggest lead of the game at 54-52 which would be the margin of victory.

Needham finished the game with a game-high 15 points while Matthew added eight points with a perfect shooting night. The forward made all three of his field goal attempts and both of his free throw tries. Josip Mikulic had a successful debut with a team-high eight rebounds and four blocks to go with his four points. Newcomers Amadou Sidibe and Marcus Gilbert also performed well in their first outing with the Stags, scoring seven and six points respectively.

Three Purple Knights scored in double figures with Waiters leading the way with 10 points and Dezmond Hickman adding 11 points. Antoine earned a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds as well.

Fairfield opens the regular season on November 10 as part of the Connecticut 6 Classic, hosted by the University of Hartford on November 10. The Stags face Central Connecticut State University at 8 pm, the final game of the tripleheader.