FAIRFIELD,  Conn. – Maurice Barrow scored a game-high 18 points while Keith Matthews came off the bench to add 15 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team (21-14) advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament with a 69-57 win over Manhattan College (21-13) at Alumni Hall on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Fairfield will host Robert Morris in a quarterfinal match up on Wednesday, March 21 at Alumni Hall. Tip off is set for 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Ticketleap.com.

                The Stags scored the first eight points of the game by hitting their first four shots, all coming inside the lane. The last of those points were a result of one of Colin Nickerson's four first-half steals, culminating with a dunk. Manhattan recovered from the opening blitz and eventually tied the score and took the lead off a three-point play from Emmy Andujar at the 14:34 mark, giving the Jaspers their first lead at 13-12.

                There were four lead changes over the next few minutes which kept Manhattan in the lead at 17-16. The Jaspers continued their six-point run with paint points from Rhamel Brown and Mohamed Koita to kick the lead to 21-16 with 11:30 on the clock. Fairfield responded with five straight points to tie the score at 21-21, the last of which came on a three-point play from Keith Matthews.

                Manhattan regained the lead with four quick points, but the Stags battled right back with seven straight points to erase the deficit and take a three-point edge at 32-29, a run which was sparked by a three-point basket from Gary Martin. The Jaspers rallied to tie the game at 32-32, the fifth tie of the game, with 3:05 remaining.
                The Jaspers went back in front by three points with a minute remaining, but back-to-back baskets by Matthews gave Fairfield a one-point lead at halftime.

                The second half began in Manhattan's favor as the visitors tallied eight of the first 12 points to take a three-point lead at 45-42 with 16:06 remaining. The Stags tied the game when Ryan Olander made a top-of-the-key three pointer that made the score 45-45. After Roberto Colonette's tip-in pushed the Jaspers in front on the next possession, Fairfield used a 12-4 spurt, all of the points coming inside the lane, to take command at 57-51 with 8:38 remaining. Five different Stags scored with Matthews being the only player to tally four points during the run.

                After Emmy Andujar's layup cut the deficit to four points at 57-53, Fairfield scored the next 11 points to take its biggest lead of the game at 68-53 with 3:50 remaining. Michael Alvarado stopped the Stags' streak with a jumper at 3:28, ending a near four-minute drought for the Jaspers. Manhattan would come no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

                The Stags finished the game with 22 assists against just 10 turnovers in the game with Rakim Sanders posting seven assists versus one turnover in addition to his nine points. Nickerson was also effective with six points, five assists, and four steals in 31 minutes.

                George Beamon led all Manhattan scorers with 16 points, while Andujar posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.