Box Score

It's not always about the numbers. Yes, basketball is a game of points and assists, blocks and rebounds, as well as steals and turnovers. But it's also a mental game. It's also about the approach taken by a team, especially when it is going through some adversity.

To a man, the Fairfield University men's basketball has been disappointed with the way things have gone the last three games. But tonight, there was a difference from their previous two losses. While the Stags came up empty to Manhattan College tonight by a 59-53 count, Head Coach Sydney Johnson saw a difference in the way the team approached this game, beginning with practice, continuing through today's shoot around, and culminating with a strong effort especially down the stretch.

 "I thought our effort was outstanding in the shoot around today and that carried into tonight's game," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "Our defense was locked in but they (Manhattan) capitalized on six or seven shots with the shot clock winding down and that was the difference in the game."

Not only did the shots go down, but a few of those attempts were taken beyond the three-point arc. Aaron Walker Jr. and Rich Williams each netted one of those buzzer beaters from long distance in the closing minutes that really hampered Fairfield's comeback hopes.

 The Stags trailed by double digits late in the game, 55-43 with 4:42 remaining specifically, but responded with seven straight points that cut the lead back to five points at 55-50- at the 1:43 mark. Nelson started the run with a three pointer which Ferron Flavors Jr. continued with his jumper from the top of the key. Matija Milin completed the 7-0 run with a tip in that gave Fairfield hope. But on the next possession, Williams connected from 22 feet that pushed the lead back to eight points, 58-50, with 40 seconds remaining.

"I told them immediately after the game that they put forward a very good accounting of themselves right through the final buzzer," Johnson said. "We got stop after stop and we came storming back. It was the team that I recognize tonight. We had two horrible games on the road but this is much better and it was the type of effort that we want and that can help us win games."

Fairfield played well enough to challenge for the win tonight, especially in the first half when it fell behind by seven points early, but rallied to take the lead following a three-point shot from Wassef Methnani, a corner jumper that gave Fairfield a 24-23 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Jesus Cruz followed with a layup on the team's next trip down the court which extended the lead to 26-23.

The Stags lead would reach as many as six points at 31-25 with two-plus minutes remaining but the Jaspers closed out the first half with six straight points to send the teams into the locker room tied at 31-31. Fairfield committed a pair of turnovers during that crucial half-ending run that helped fuel Manhattan's spurt.

"They are very good defensively. They press, they play zone and they are very active. I think their activity and deflections make it hard to get a flow so you have to credit them."

The Stags struggled offensively at the start of the second half, not scoring their first points until nearly six minutes expired on the clock. Manhattan took advantage of the scoring drought with eight straight points before Flavors Jr. netted a three-point field goal that cut the deficit to 39-34.

The Jaspers would run their lead to as many as 12 points in the second half, the first coming at 52-40 at the 7:56 mark. The second time came with under five minutes left in the game before the Stags went on their 7-0 spurt that nearly turned the momentum to their favor.

Flavors Jr. and Nelson paced the Fairfield offense with 14 points each while Milin added 10 points with five rebounds for the Stags. Pauly Paulicap also recorded 14 points to lead all Manhattan scorers and added a team-best seven rebounds. Jonathan Kasibabu equaled that rebounding total for the top spot among the Stags.

Fairfield takes to the road for its next game, heading to Poughkeepsie for a Saturday night match up with Marist College. Game time is slated for 7 pm.