WEBSTER BANK ARENA -- It was a game where two teams played a solid defensive game and the score often reflected it. After the two teams scored just 32 points between them in the first half, Wofford College found its touch midway through the second half, resulting in the Terriers coming away with a 54-36 decision over Fairfield University on Friday night.

Wofford scored the first points of the game off a three-point shot by Eric Garcia, giving the Terriers a lead that the team would not surrender the rest of the way. The Terriers tallied six of the next eight points to take a five-point advantage, a run that ended with a dunk by Justin Gordon. Fairfield came within a point at 9-7 after a free throw from Jerome Segura and remained within a hoop at 12-10 with seven minutes remaining.

Once again, the visitors used a six-point run to improve their advantage, this time it raised the edge to eight points at 18-10. Karl Cochran tallied four of the six points, the first four points of the stretch. The eight-point lead would carry into the locker room Wofford enjoyed a 20-12 lead at intermission.

Wofford quickly built the halftime edge into double digits, using a 6-1 start to the second half to make the score 26-13 with 16 minutes remaining. Fairfield put together its first substantial run of the game by scoring six straight points, all from the free throw line, which nearly cut the deficit in half at 26-19. Amadou Sidibe made all four of his free throws during the run while K.J. Rose posted a pair of charity tosses.

Fairfield was still within striking distance with 13 minutes on the clock, playing within seven points at 26-19 after another two free throws from Sidibe. It was at this point that Wofford found its shooting touch because the team would quickly put the game out of reach with a 14-1 run that brought the lead to 20 points at 40-20 at the 8:12 mark. The Stags came no closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

“We played a very good defensive team tonight,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “This game was right there for us to take for the first 27 minutes. They started to hit some shots at that point and the lead started to build. We have to forget about this game and move forward because we have another game tomorrow.”

Marcus Gilbert led all Fairfield scorers with 10 points, while Sidibe added six points and nine rebounds to support the Stags. Cochran posted a double-double for Wofford with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Justin Gordon came off the bench to lead all scorers in the game with 11 markers.

Fairfield will play its second game of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament on Saturday night at 7 pm against Sam Houston State. South Dakota and Wofford will play the first game of the Saturday doubleheader at 5 pm.