LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.. – An energetic second half and overtime brought the Fairfield University men's basketball team to the brink of pulling off a road win against Rider University, but  the Stags could not escape with the victory. When the final buzzer went off, it was the Broncs that held the advantage with a 54-52 decision in overtime.

                After falling behind by seven at halftime, the Stags came out for the second half as a different team. For the second time this year, Fairfield went into the locker room with just 13 points on the scoreboard when the first half ended. But unlike the meeting four weeks ago, Fairfield came out in the second half and took the game to their opponent.

                Marcus Gilbert was the key to Fairfield's offensive fortune as the junior tallied 25 points in the second half and overtime to finish with a season-high 30 points, just one marker off tying his career-high. He completed the double-double with 13 rebounds, seven of which came after halftime.

                The second half did not start well for the forward as he made just one of four free throws in the opening 30 seconds. But from that point, misses would be few and far between as he made eight of 12 field goal attempts and all four three-point tries after intermission. One of those three-point baskets pushed the Stags in front for the first time at 35-34 with 7:39 remaining in regulation.

                Rider regained the lead on a pair of Matt Lopez free throws but the Stags would score the next eight points to take its biggest lead of the game at 43-36 with four minutes left. Gilbert and Mike Kirkland both made three pointers to fuel that run. The Broncs closed out the second half with seven straight points highlighted by a critical three pointer from Khalil Alford to make the score 43-42 with two minutes left.

                Lopez had a chance to give Rider the lead with a minute left, but netted just one of two free throws, tying the game at 43-43 with a minute left.

                Fairfield secured the lead less than a minute into the extra period when Gilbert knocked down a shot for a 45-43 edge. Teddy Okereafor knotted the game with his own jumper before Lopez tacked on a free throw for a 46-45 Rider advantage with 2:30 on the clock. From that point, there would be three lead changes and four ties.

                The Stags were down four points at 51-47 but rallied with five straight on a three pointer from Jerome Segura and a pair of free throws from Gilbert, making it a 52-51 game. A Rider turnover on the next possession proved to be critical in the game. The Stags gained possession but were on the verge of being tied up by a Rider defender. Unfortunately, the natural reaction of calling a timeout proved to the difference as the Stags did not have any left. The result was a technical foul which sent Okereafor to the line for two shots. He made both to give Rider the lead for good at 53-52. With 10 seconds remaining.

                Segura finished the game with a career-best 13 points for Fairfield. Lopez registered 20 points and 19 rebounds for Rider.