UNIONDALE, N,Y. -- Never let it be said that this year's edition of the Fairfield University men's basketball quits regardless of score or time on the clock. Today's game against Quinnipiac University is just another example of how this team plays to the very end.

Trailing by nine points for most of the second half, the Stags could have easily let the game clock slip away and go home and get ready for Iona College on Monday night. With 1:08left in regulation, Quinnipiac seemed destined to run out the clock after Rich Kelly made a pair of free throws that pushed the score to 72-63. Jonathan Kasibabu invited momentum back to the Fairfield side when he converted a three-point play with 58 seconds left.

Jesus Cruz stole the inbound pass, his fourth of the game, and was fouled going to the basket, earning him a pair of free throws with 55 seconds on the clock. The freshman calmly made both charity tosses, which also raised his point total to a career-best 21 and brought the Stags as close as they had been since the first half. The Bobcats went to put the ball back into play after the free throws, but Nelson was waiting for the pass and intercepted it. He quickly fed Cruz for a layup and made it a one possession game at 72-70 with just over 50 seconds on the clock. 

Fairfield quickly fouled Cameron Young, giving the forward a shot at the double bonus. He missed the first shot but made the second attempt to force Fairfield into considering a three-point shot with 23 seconds left in regulation. The Stags were able to set up a play at the top of the key, but the three-point try fell off the rim and was scooped up by Young. This time, he converted both ends of the double bonus and pushed the Bobcats in front by a 75-70 count. Jacob Rigoni ended Fairfield's comeback bid when he intercepted a pass and ran out the remaining time to secure the win for the Bobcats.

"This was a close one," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "Jonathan (Kasibabu) gave us an inspired efforts especially late in the game. I thought our guys played all the way through to the end. It's disappointing to not get the result at the end. But, I am proud with the effort that our guys gave us through the end of the game."

The Stags trailed by nine points at halftime despite coming out early and making an early run at the Bobcats. Fairfield controlled the game early and built a seven-point lead just eight minutes into the game. Quinnipiac answered with a 14-0 run over the next five minutes that gave the Bobcats a seven-point advantage at 24-17.

Fairfield's five-minute scoring drought came to an end when Jesus Cruz drove to the basket and laid the ball in for a pair of points. Andrew Robinson came down on the next possession and made a three pointer for Quinnipiac, one of his game-high four shots from behind the arc.

The Stags seemed to have trouble over the final few minutes of the half which allowed Quinnipiac to further build on its lead until it reached nine points by intermission. The Stags ended the first half shooting 35 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three-point range which translated into just 32 points. The point total was in contrast to what the Stags were able to do over the last two games, scoring a combined 192 points against Niagara and Rider in the previous two games.

"We had a couple really good days of practice so it was hard to figure out why we looked that way when in practice we were up down and sharing the ball," Johnson said. "But today, it did look different and that's something we will take a look at."

Cruz finished the game with his first career double-double, hitting career highs with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Kasibabu also performed admirably especially down the stretch, ending the contest with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Young led all Quinnipiac scorers with 15 points, one of five Bobcats in double figures.

Fairfield will have a quick turnaround as it will play Iona College on Monday night at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is slated for 7 pm.