BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – On two occasions during this young season, the Fairfield University men's basketball team found a way to overcome 10-point deficits in the second half and win those games. Tonight, the Stags found themselves trailing by double-digits once again over the final 20 minutes, but this time there was no magic in the ball bag.
Despite another herculean effort from Amadou Sidibe, Fairfield dropped its first home game of the season to Bucknell University, 75-64. The forward posted his fifth straight double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Stags in both categories.
On several occasions, the Stags seemed poised for one of those comebacks tonight, but the Bison always seemed to come up with a turnover that resulted in driving layups. The visitors enjoyed a 23-9 advantage in fast break points, taking full advantage of the Stags' 18 turnovers.
“We were disappointed with the result,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “Our togetherness was not at the level we have to come expect of ourselves. We have to credit Bucknell because they are a very good team that has beaten good teams as well. But, we have to do better all across the board – defense taking care of the ball, sharing the ball, fighting harder and playing more together. “
Fairfield's play started out as well as could expected, scoring seven of the game's first nine points to hold a 7-2 lead just two-plus minutes into the game. Curtis Cobb was mostly responsible for the solid start, registering a three-point shot and a pair of free throws on two of the team's first three possessions.
But Bucknell chipped away and countered that early success by involving their two of their top scorers in Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland. The duo each put together a pair of baskets that brought the Bison within two points at 12-10. Matt O'Reilly pushed the visitors in front with a three-point shot on the next possession, before Tyler Nelson netted his first points of the game to recapture the lead at 14-13.
Sidibe tacked on another basket to make it a three-point game at 16-13, but Bucknell answered with an 8-2 spurt that secured its own three-point edge with eight minutes remaining. Neither team could manage more than a three-point advantage until late in the half when Bucknell tallied the final seven points of the half to head into the locker room with a 33-29 lead.
In the first five minutes of the second half, Bucknell doubled its lead to nine points after a pair of Thomas free throws pushed the score to 43-34 with 15:13 on the clock. Fairfield managed to come within five points on a couple of occasions, the last of which was at 47-42 with 11:48 remaining in the game. The Bison responded with a 7-2 spurt that presented the game's first double-digit lead at 54-44 with 9:33 left. Bucknell led by as many as 15 before settling for the 11 points victory.
Foulland led all Bucknell scorers with 23 points and added 11 rebounds with three steals in his 31 minutes of work. Thomas just missed his own double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Bison. Tyler Nelson and Jerry Johnson Jr. provided 12 points each to the Fairfield effort.
Fairfield's next game takes place on December 18 at North Carolina State University.
