Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- There were a lot of good numbers in the box score for the Fairfield University men's basketball team, numbers which allow the Stags to build upon as they start their final week of practice before next Saturday's season opener against Sacred Hear University. But the numbers on the scoreboard did not add up to a win as the Stags dropped a 63-59 decision to the University of Bridgeport in an exhibition game at Webster Bank Arena.

Plays were run, shots were created, but tonight those shots did not seem to fall into the basket. Fairfield shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, which allowed it to hold a 39-33 lead at halftime. The second half was a different story as the Stags struggled from the floor to the tune of 18 percent and 0 for 11 from three-point range. The Stags did not make a basket in the final nine minutes of play, the last coming off a Malcolm Gilbert jumper with 9:06 remaining that put the home team in front 53-47.

The six-point lead was nearly half of the Stags' largest lead of the second half, an 11-point edge at 46-35 following an Amadou Sidibe layup at the 16:23 mark. The Purple Knights would come within six points a couple of times, but Fairfield usually pushed the lead a little higher to keep the visitors in check. It wasn't until the scoring drought took full effect that Bridgeport was able to make a run at the Stags.

Fairfield still led by five points at 56-51 with 5:41 remaining following a made free throw from Marcus Gilbert. Bridgeport would use a 7-1 run over the next two minutes to take the lead at 58-57 with 3:11 on the clock. Two free throws by Sean Grennan regained the lead for Fairifeld at 59-58, but those would be the last points of the evening for the team. The Purple Knights scored the final five points to take the game at 63-59.

The first half was a different story as everything the Stags threw toward the basket seemed to fall through the net. The Purple Knights grabbed an early advantage and led by as many as five points at 13-8 in the first seven minutes of the contest. Fairfield used back-to-back three pointers from Doug Chappell and Maurice Barrow to secure a one-point edge at 14-13 with 12:27 on the clock.

The lead reached eight points by the 6:55 mark at 27-19 as Fairfield newcomers accounted for 10 of the points in the 13-6 run. Chappell started the stretch with another three pointer which Steve Smith answered with his own long-range jumper. Malcolm Gilbert and Grennan followed with layups on back-to-back possessions that made it 24-18. Marcus Gilbert finished off the run with a three-point shot that made it 27-19.

Bridgeport pulled within a point in the final three minutes at 32-31 but Fairfield finished the half by scoring seven of the final nine points to take a six-point lead at intermission.

Fairfield's newcomers were impressive, highlighted by Smith's 10-point performance and Grennan's seven assists and two steals. Chappell chipped in with seven points while Malcolm Gilbert added four markers. Amadou Sidibe just missed a double-double with nine points and a team-high 13 rebounds. Barrow led all Fairfield scorers with 16 points.

Jojo Swift paced the Bridgeport attack with 21 points, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line, while Sean Berry added a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds in 28 minutes of work.

Fairfield will officially start the season on November 9 when it plays another local team in Sacred Heart University as part of the Connecticut 6 Classic. The Stags will close out the college basketball tripleheader with an 8 pm start.