Box Score RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Marcus Gilbert scored 23 points and Tyler Nelson added 21 points and the duo combined to score the final 20 Fairfield points but the effort could not overcome Manhattan College as the Jaspers posted a 72-66 win at home.
It was the first time that Fairfield did not reach 70 points in a game since falling to Wagner on December 18 and only the fourth time in 11 games that the Stags missed the 70-point mark. Fairfield, which places 24th in the nation for three-point field goal per game netted seven more in this game with Nelson (4) and Gilbert (2) accounting for all but one shot from behind the arc.
Reaching the 40-point mark in the opening half has become the norm, but one of the reasons for the Fairfield's offensive success was the ability to shoot the three pointer. The long-range jumper eluded the team in the first half, making just two of seven shots. However, the Stags defense did not allow a three pointer in the opening half as the Jaspers missed all six attempts. Ironically, the one that did fall for the home team was waved off because it was released after the buzzer, a shot that was 45-feet away from the basket.
Without their primary weapon in hand, the Stags relied on attacking the basket and they did that rather well. Nearly every student-athlete wearing red found a way to score inside the lane. Fairfield jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind a jumper from Curtis Cobb and a driving layup by Jonathan Kasibabu on consecutive possessions. The lead went to five points at 6-1 before Manhattan went on a 10-4 run that pushed it in front for the first time at 11-10.
The Stags would still lead by three after Marcus Gilbert made a free throw to make it 16-13 with 13:49 on the clock. Fairfield went cold from that point, missing eight straight shots and turning the ball over five times to allow Manhattan to grab its biggest lead of the half at 21-16 with 8:39 remaining. It was the biggest first half deficit for Fairfield since it trailed 30-25 with two minutes to go in the first half against Wagner.
Jerome Segura's running one-hander from five feet away halted the drought and brought the Stags within three at 21-18. Tyler Nelson was fouled shooting a three pointer on the next possession and he made all three tries to tie it at 21-21. The Stags completed the 7-0 run with a jumper from Cobb to take the lead at 23-21. The two teams would be tied at 23 and 25 before Gilbert's three pointer put the Stags up for good in the half at 28-25, settling for a 33-31 advantage at intermission.
The Jaspers stayed close despite seeing Zane Waterman on the bench for a portion of the opening half with three fouls. The sophomore, who averages 10.6 points per game, came in the second half and kept Manhattan close. After falling behind 39-31, Waterman went on a personal 7-2 run that cut the led to 41-38 after his layup at the 15:46 mark. His fast-break dunk would give Manhattan the lead at 43-41, an advantage that would grow to 45-41 with 14:15 on the clock.
Johnson Jr. stopped the Jaspers' momentum with a long three-point field goal that brought the Stags within a point at 45-44. Matija Milin contributed to the cause without scoring a point, taking a charge against Waterman that put the forward back on the bench with four fouls at the 11 minute mark. Gilbert found his touch and scored the next nine points but Manhattan was still able to push its lead to 62-58 with 6:48 remaining.
Manhattan's lead would reach six points at 69-63 before Nelson netted his third three pointer of the half, cutting the lead to 69-66. With that basket, Nelson (11 points) and Gilbert (nine points) combined for 20 straight Fairfield points over 10 minutes.
The Nelson three pointer would be the last points scored by the Stags as Manhattan finished the game by making three of four free throws to put the final touches on its 72-66 win. The Stags were scoreless for more than three minutes to end the game.
Fairfield comes right back to play Dartmouth College on Monday night at Alumni Hall with tip off scheduled for 7 pm.
