BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – It was another close game for the Fairfield University men's basketball team as Siena College scored five of the final six points of the game to edge Fairfield University 68-67 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Webster Bank Arena. It was the third time in the last five outings that a Fairfield basketball game was decided by four points or less, and the second straight by two points or less.

                Siena took control of the game from the opening tip, converting a steal into a three-point play that gave the lead to the visitors after the team's first possession. The Saints would build upon that success into a five-point lead at 9-4 with 17 minutes left in the half.

                Marcus Gilbert began to get into the mix after that Siena start and quickly turned the momentum toward the Stags. He started a run with a pair of free throws that would end with Jerome Segura sinking a three-point shot at the 15:04 mark that gave Fairfield its first lead at 11-9. Siena tied the game on a basket from Jimmy Page, but that would set the stage for another Stags run.

                Fairfield scored 14 of the next 16 points to take its biggest lead at 25-13 with nine minutes remaining. Segura would score six points during that run as the freshman would finish the half with nine points and that figure would tie his career high.

                A few minutes later, Gilbert would pick up his second foul with six minutes remaining and the Stags still up by double figures. However, his absence compounded the Stags losing K.J. Rose to foul trouble, who committed two fouls in the first 90 seconds of the game. With two Fairfield starters on the bench, Siena would begin to slice into that double-digit deficit, closing the half with a 13-3 run that would allow the Saints to come within two points at 34-32 by halftime.

                The Stags started the second half with 10 straight points as Amadou Sidibe scored off a layup, Gilbert and Nelson each added a three-point field goal while Mike Kirkland followed with a pair of free throws that pushed the Fairfield lead back to double figures at 44-32 with 16:55 on the clock.

                Siena found its way back into the game behind Ogunyemi who would score four points during a 12-2 run that pulled the Saints within two points once again at 46-44 with 13:45 on the clock. After a Fairfield timeout, Coleman Johnson stepped up and made a foul-line jumper to stave the Siena run. The Stags forced a turnover from the Saints which Steve Johnston turned into a three-point field goal to build the Fairfield advantage back to seven points at 51-44.

                But the Saints found a new offensive weapon in Rob Poole who made back to back three pointers that cut the lead to one point at 51-50 with 11:30 remaining. However, Siena was dealt a pair of fouls in consecutive possessions which saddled Poole and Ogunyemi with three fouls each. Johnson converted two free throws after Poole's  foul that put Fairfield up by three points, 53-50.

                Siena would rally to tie the score at 56-56, the first tie since the score was knotted at 11-11 early in the first half. From that point, the two teams would exchange the lead four times and tie the score two more times. Fairfield's last lead stood at 66-63 with three minutes remaining after Sidibe scored off a layup.

                Ogunyemi pulled the Saints within a point with a tip-in and followed with a layup on the team's next possession to put the visitors in front at 67-66. Lavon Long made one of two free throws with 20 seconds left to push the lead to two points. Gilbert made one of two free throws with five seconds left to make it a 68-67 game. The Stags fouled Marquis Wright with three seconds on the clock and the guard missed both attempts, the second intentionally. Segura tried a desperation shot from three-quarters court but the ball was not on target.

                Gilbert finished the game with 17 points while Sidibe posted his second straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Poole led all scorers in the game with 18 points, followed by Ogunyemi's 15 markers.

                Fairfield will play its next game on Monday night at Webster Bank Arena when the Stags host Rider University. Game time is 7 pm. Tickets for the game are available at the Webster Bank Arena box office or through www.ticketmaster.com.