Box Score HAMDEN, Conn. – There are certain qualities that need to be present for a game to be labeled an instant classic. Tie scores, lead changes, last second heroics, and clutch plays are all on the checklist. Today's men's basketball game between Fairfield University and Quinnipiac University met all of those checkpoints and maybe even a few more.
With 23 lead changes and 13 ties on the books, it wasn't until Curtis Cobb converted a three-point play with nine seconds remaining in the second overtime that this game was decided. When the final buzzer sounded the scoreboard read Fairfield 84, Quinnipiac 80, making the Stags a perfect 4-0 in overtime games this season.
“It was an incredible basketball game,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “It wasn't necessarily the prettiest but both teams played tremendously hard. I think our execution down the stretch was interesting at times but I couldn't be prouder of the resiliency. We are not the most experienced team and yet we look like we belonged in that type of game and that's a good feeling.”
There were moments that felt good and there were moments that felt not so good. But in the end, it was the elation felt by the players on the court and on the bench that matter most. After Cobb's three-point play, the win was finally realized, giving the team its 14th win of the season.
The Stags thought they had this game won on a couple of occasions, but Quinnipiac would not go away. The Stags held a five-point lead with 36 seconds remaining in regulation after Cobb made a free throw. Giovanni McLean drove the court and laid the ball in the basket to make it a one-possession game at 70-67. Fairfield turned the ball over on the inbound play, giving the Bobcats a chance to tie.
Daniel Harris did just that after he was fouled trying a three-point shot with 28 seconds remaining. The junior netted all three attempts to tie the score. Fairfield ran the clock down for one final shot but Cobb's shot banged around the rim before falling off to end regulation.
In the first overtime, Fairfield trailed by a point after Harris' three pointer put the home team up 75-74 with 58 seconds left. Nelson made his only three pointer of the game on the next possession to regain a two-point edge for the Stags. With 13 seconds left, Chaise Daniels was fouled going to the basket, setting up his two free throws that tied the game at 77-77. Jerome Segura had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his one-hander in the lane fell off the rim and brought the second overtime.
Cobb started the second overtime with a three-point play which allowed the Stags to take the lead for good, although the Bobcats did cut the deficit down to a point on two occasions. After Daniels connected on one of two free throws, Fairfield still held on to an 81-80 lead with 2:27 remaining. Neither team scored again until Cobb was hacked while laying the ball in the basket, setting up his second three-point play of the overtime period. When the free throw fell through the net, the game was sealed at 84-80.
Cobb was one of several Stags who contributed to this thrilling win. Milin finished the game with 18 points, just one off his career-high set against Manhattan last Sunday. Gilbert showed his all-around skills with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a steal in a team-high 49 minutes. Gilbert was one of four Stags to play more than 40 minutes in this game, joining Nelson (48 minutes), Segura (45 minutes), and Cobb (43 minutes). Segura and Nelson also ended the afternoon in double figures with 13 points each.
This team is mentally tough,” Johnson said. “I am really deeply proud of these guys. I wanted to have a basketball team that played that way and it's something great to see. We continue to preach trust, trust trust. When it shows up, we are so much stronger and a better team, especially when we get a number of guys involved.”
Some of that mental toughness came through in the opening half. After Quinnipiac scored nine straight points to take an eight point lead at 32-24 with 4:30 left in the half. Milin posted back-to-back layups to cut the lead in half, 32-28. After Abdulai Bundu's layup briefly slowed down the momentum, Fairfield reeled off 10 points to end the half and take a 38-34 lead at halftime. Milin and Cobb each made a three-point field goal in the run.
The Bobcats opened the second half by scoring nine of the first 12 points to regain the lead at 43-41. It was the first of 12 lead changes that occurred in the second half and overtimes. The Bobcats did not lead by more than four points in the second half while the Stags' biggest lead stood at five points, including the 70-65 edge with 36 seconds left.
Fairfield will play its next game on Monday night when it hosts Marist College at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is listed for 7 pm.
