LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – There are always certain plays that define a basketball game. And there are always players that execute those plays. Tonight, Marcus Gilbert, Jerome Segura, and Tyler Nelson were those players. Tonight, the Fairfield University men's basketball team beat Rider University on the road, 69-64.

                “This was as big a win that we had this year,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “I was given a great effort tonight especially on the road. This type of win shows that we can respond to setbacks coming off the Siena game.”

                Give Rider credit. The Broncs trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes remaining in the game at 57-46. Rider used a 13-3 run to make things close at 60-59 The first defining play came when Segura anticipated a pass, knocked away the basketball and went the length of the court to boost the lead to three points at 62-59.

                “I am really proud of our defense tonight,” Johnson said. “That steal was the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort by the entire team. “

                Rider was not done though and Khalil Thomas' extra effort on the offensive glass set up a three-point play for the forward that tied the game at 62-62 with 1:01 on the clock. Head Coach Sydney Johnson called a timeout and set up his offense.

                The Stags executed perfectly when Gilbert found open space at the top of the three-point arc and stroked a three-point shot that provided the separation that Fairfield needed to win this game.

                “It was a nice play, but we always give them options off a possession,” Johnson said. “We know that Marcus is our 'it' guy and he showed why tonight.”

                “I give a lot of credit to Tyler on that play,” Gilbert said. “He found me and got me the ball. It felt really good.”

 With 45 seconds left in regulation, Fairfield still needed to finish things out. And the Stags did that when Gilbert and Nelson each made a pair of free throws to seal the victory.

                Fairfield was feeling pretty good for most of the night. Right from the opening tip, the Stags were able to execute and keep Rider on its heels defensively for most of the game.

                It was a rather emphatic start for the Stags when Jonathan Kasibabu hammered home a dunk for the game's first points. The Broncs scored the next seven points to take its largest lead at 7-2, a margin it would still hold at 14-9 with 14:38 left. The Stags tied the game on Marcus Gilbert's three pointer and Jerome Segura's layup on the next possession, knotting the score at 14-14.

                Trailing by three points at 19-16, Jerry Johnson Jr. worked some of his offensive magic to put Fairfield the lead which the team would bring into the locker room. After Nelson's layup brought Fairfield within a point at 19-18, Johnson netted back-to-back three pointers to push the Stags in front at 24-21 midway through the half. His third three-point field would provide the visitors their biggest lead of the half at 31-25 with 7:14 on the clock. When time expired in the opening half, Fairfield enjoyed a slight 38-36 edge over the Broncs.

Nelson finished the game with 20 points while Gilbert completed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Segura also reached double figures with 11 points for Fairfield. Thomas paced Rider's offense with 18 points and added 13 rebounds to the cause.

                Fairfield earned a split in its two-game road swing with tonight's win, setting up a three-game home stand that starts with Monmouth University on Monday night at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is slated for 7 pm.