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Derek Needham Earns Spot On Preseason All-MAAC Tea

Men's Basketball Fairfield University

Men's Basketball Edges Saint Joseph's For Fourth S

Box Score
Box Score

            PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Derek Needham scored a game-high 24 points including the game-winning three pointer with 16 seconds left as the Fairfield University men's basketball team posted a 60-57 win over Saint Joseph's University. It was the Stags first win over the Hawks since an 86-62 decision during the 1977-78 season. The victory ended Fairfield's 10-game losing streak against Saint Joseph's and extended the Stags' current winning streak to four games.
 
            “This win shows how we are coming together as a team,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “We received contributions from everyone today. This shows how much we enjoy playing together.”
 
            The first half belonged to Needham as the guard scored 16 points in the opening 20 minutes. He netted a three-point shot for the game's first points before Saint Joseph's scored back-to-back to take its first lead of the game at 4-3. The Stags scored five straight to double up the Hawks at 8-4 as Needham connected on another three pointer.
 
            The home team erased that early deficit with seven straight points to take its biggest lead at 11-8 with 13:51 remaining. Ronald Roberts scored five of those seven points for Saint Joseph's. The advantage was short lived however as Needham cashed in from behind the arc again to make it 11-11.
 
            Roberts regained the lead for the Hawks with a slam dunk but once again the Stags used a quick spurt to take control. Five straight points put Fairfield in front at 16-13 with 11:09 on the clock. Fairfield would not trail the rest of the half, leading by as many as eight points at 28-20 with 2:57 remaining in the half.
 
            The Hawks finished the period with seven straight points to close within a point by the intermission, going to the locker room down 28-27.
 
            Fairfield started the second half with baskets from Amadou Sidibe and Needham to open up a five-point advantage at 32-27 just 90 seconds into the half. A three-point shot from Langston Galloway cut the lead to two points, the Hawks' first three-point field goal of the game.
 
            The Stags build their lead to four points when Sidibe laid the ball in the basket for a 34-30 edge. Saint Joseph's went on a 15-9 run that culminated with a put-back dunk by Galloway that gave the team its first lead since the first half at 49-47 with 6:27 remaining. Desmond Wade got the leadback with a three-point shot at the 6:16 mark.
 
            The two teams traded the lead three times from there with Roberts putting SJU in the lead before Marcus Gilbert's three pointer made it 53-51. C.J. Aiken answered with a three pointer for the Hawks to push the team back in front at 54-53 with four minutes on the clock.
 
            Gilbert made a long-range three pointer to grab a two-point lead for the Stags with 2:16 left, but Carl Jones tied the score with two free throws on the Hawks' next possession. After a shot clock violation gave the ball back to Saint Joseph's, the Hawks took a one-point lead off a free throw from Chris Wilson with 29 seconds left.
 
            Needham took over from that point, hitting a three pointer that pushed Fairfield in front at 59-57 with 16 seconds left. On the other end of the court, Needham drew an offensive foul to give possession back to the Stags. The ball was inbounded to Needham who was promptly fouled. He made the second of the two free throws for a 60-57 lead.
 
            “There are not enough words to say everything that Derek encompasses for us,” Johnson said. “He brings so much to the table. He scored off the play we called but he had options and made the big shot.”
           
            With 5.9 seconds left, Jones tried a buzzer-beating three pointer but the ball caromed off the rim and the game ended.
 
            Sidibe was the only other Fairfield student-athlete in double figures, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. Roberts posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds to pace Saint Joseph's.
 
            Fairfield returns to the court on Saturday, December 29 when it travels to Old Dominion University for a 7 pm tip.
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