Box Score

            NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Derek Needham scored a team-high 26 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team dropped an 84-73 decision to Iona College on the road.
           
            Needham gave the lead to Fairfield on the team's first possession as his step-back three pointer pushed the Stags in front. After a free throw by the Gaels, Keith Matthews doubled the advantage with a layup to move the score to 5-1 just two minutes into the game.
           
            Iona grabbed its first lead of the game with a 7-2 spurt that made it 8-7 following a free throw by Sean Armand. Fairfield recaptured the lead after Marcus Gilbert and Maurice Barrow put together back-to-back baskets for an 11-8 advantage at the 14:56 mark. The Stags would eventually add another pair of points to that lead and secured their biggest advantage of the half at 17-12 with 12:19 remaining.
 
            Trailing by a 19-14 margin, Armand used a personal five-point run to tie the game with a three pointer and a jumper on consecutive possessions. Fairfield answered with four quick points from Matthews and Desmond Wade which allowed the team to take its final lead of the half at 23-19 with eight minutes remaining.
 
            The Gaels would rally to tie the score at 24-24 with 6:39 remaining and continued its rally by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to take a double-digit lead at 37-26 with 3:40 on the clock. Iona would carry that lead into the locker room as the half ended with a 41-30 score.
 
            The Stags opened the second half with seven straight points as Amadou Sidibe put the first points on the board which Needham followed with five points of his own. Fairfield came within in three points during that opening run at 42-39 following Barrow's basket. Iona responded with five straight points including a three pointer from Lamont Jones that made it an eight-point deficit at 47-39.
 
            The visitors quickly cut into that lead with seven straight points courtesy of a basket and a pair of free throws from Barrow as well as a three-point shot by Needham, making it 47-46 at the 14:31 mark. Once again, Iona rebounded from a run and went on a 14-4 run over the next three minutes, using three three-point field goals as the spark to regain its halftime edge of 11 points at 61-50 with 10:55 remaining.
 
            Following the theme of the night, Fairfield came back again, this time with seven points in a row that brought it within four at 61-57. Once again, Needham started the run, netting a three pointer which Sidibe followed with a put-back layup. Marcus Gilbert was the final piece with a short jumper.
 
            Armand stopped the run with a jumper to make it a six-point game. After Armand's hoop, Jones took over for the Gaels by scoring the next 13 Iona points and the home team would need all of his points just to keep the Stags at bay. After his Jones' string of points, Iona was only able to add a few points to its lead at 76-69 with less than three minutes left.
 
            Fairfield would come within five points after Needham added a pair of free throws, but Gaels made their free throws down the stretch to win the game by an 84-73 score.
 
            Jones led all scorers by scoring 27 points for the Gaels while Armand added 23 points in support. Barrow and Gilbert reached double figures for Fairfield, netting 12 points each. Sidibe grabbed 11 caroms for the Stags, while Gilbert contributed nine rebounds to the cause.
 
            The Stags get back to action on Monday night when they host Loyola University at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is slated for 7 pm. Tickets are available at the Arena box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.