Box Score RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Marcus Gilbert scored a team-high 24 points while Tyler Nelson added 17 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team fell to Manhattan College 79-70 at Draddy Gymnasium.
Fairfield's offense took advantage of open long-range shots and frequent trips to the free throw line to make an impressive first half run. The Stags ended the half with four three pointers and made 13 free throws in 14 attempts. It was those numbers that enabled Fairfield to erase a nine-point deficit with at the 7:10 mark and take the lead for the first time late in the half.
Manhattan scored on its first possession off a three pointer from RaShawn Stores, which Tyler Nelson answered with his own three pointer just a few seconds later. Emmy Andujar scored on back-to-back possessions to regain the lead for the Jaspers, a lead which they would not surrender until the one-minute mark in the half.
The Jaspers secured a nine-point lead twice in the opening half, the first coming at 19-10 and the second of which was at 27-18. After Andujar posted the home team's 27th point, Fairfield would score six straight points including a three pointer from Steve Smith to make it a three-point game at 27-24 with 3:23 on the clock. Ashton Pankey would halt the run with a layup but Fairfield kept attacking and would eventually tie the game at 31-31 off a three pointer from Gilbert.
The junior would push Fairfield in front on the next possession with a layup to make it 33-31 with 43 second remaining. A pair of free throws by Zane Waterman tied the game just before the buzzer to send the two teams in halftime knotted at 33-33.
Manhattan came out of the locker room and scored the first five points of the second half to take a two-possession lead at 38-33 with 18:33 remaining. Shane Richards was at the heart of that start, playing his first minutes in quite a while. The guard picked up three fouls in the opening half, forcing him to the bench. Richards' play in the second half was the catalyst to Manhattan's offense coming to life.
Richards tallied nine straight points for Manhattan in the first three minutes of the second half, half of his 18-point second-half performance. The Stags fought back to pull within four points after Nelson made a three-pointer and KJ Rose took the ball to the hoop, making it a 46-42 game with 14:43 on the clock.
The Jaspers scored 10 of the next 12 points to pick up its first double-digit lead of the game at 56-46 with 11:56 remaining. The Stags were not able to cut the deficit under 10 points for the rest of the game.
The Stags have a two-game home stand starting up later this week, beginning with a match up against Niagara University on Thursday night. Fairfield will play its final home game of the season when it finishes the season series with Saint Peter's on February 21, which will also serve as Senior Day. For tickets to both games, please visit the Webster Bank Arena box office or navigate to www.ticketmaster.com.
