Box Score

Fairfield, Conn. -- Amadou Sidibe tallied six points and a game-high 13 rebounds as the Fairfield University men's basketball team fell to Manhattan College by a 62-40 count at Alumni Hall on Tuesday night. The loss ended Fairfield's five-game winning streak which dates back to a 71-37 win over Marist on January 24.

The Stags came out and grabbed an early lead at 7-2 with 16:37 remaining in the half. Josip Mikulic scored Fairfield's first five points, including the only three pointer of the first half. Sidibe added the final basket in that opening run, a basket which would be significant in that it would be the last basket for the Stags in over 12 minutes. During that long stretch, Manhattan went on a 24-1 run that put the Jaspers well in control of the game at 26-8.

Maurice Barrow would finally end the drought with a jumper from 10 feet away, pushing Fairfield into double figures and making the score 26-10 with 4:07 remaining in the half. Fairfield would manage just three more points over the final four minutes, all coming from the free throw line. Barrow connected on a pair of charity tosses at the 3:23 mark and Steve Johnston added one of two free throws with 11 seconds on the clock. The Jaspers missed a jumper with four seconds left, sending the visitors into the locker room with a 34-13 advantage.

Fairfield showed life in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring the first six points in just over two minutes. Colin Nickerson was primarily responsible for the run with two driving layups which he followed with an assist off Marcus Gilbert's basket. The Stags came as close as 16 points a couple minutes later after a three-point play by Barrow cut the deficit to 40-24 with 16:14 remaining. Manhattan put that rally to rest with five points in 40 seconds, the big blow coming off a three-point basket by Shane Richards that brought the Jaspers' lead to 45-24 at the 14:41 mark.

The Stags came within 16 points one more time after Derek Needham made a pair of free throws at the 5:07 mark, bringing the score to 51-35. Once again, Manhattan used a string of points to squelch the rally, using four straight free throws to regain a 20-point advantage at 55-35 with 4:09 left.

Barrow was the Stags' top scorer with nine points, adding seven rebounds in his 30 minutes of work. Fairfield outrebounded the Jaspers by a 44-33 count and blocked five shots, two of which came off the hands of Coleman Johnson. The biggest discrepancy came in field goal percentage as the Jaspers made 52 percent of their shots (23 of 44), while the Stags connected on 25 percent (15 of 59).

Fairfield does not have much time to contemplate tonight's result as it hosts Siena College at Webster Bank Arena on Thursday, February 14. The Fairfield women's team starts the doubleheader with a game against Canisius College at 6 pm with the men following at 8:30 pm. Both games will be televised on ESPN3. For tickets, visit the Webster Bank Arena box office or go online at www.ticketmaster.com.