FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- With the hot stove heating up for baseball fans, teams are looking to fill holes in the lineup, searching for hitters, starting pitching, and maybe some bullpen help.  And if you are keeping a list of teams trying to secure a closer, well you can add the Fairfield University men's basketball team to that list. For the seventh time this season, the Fairfield University men's basketball team was involved in a game that was decided by three points or less, including tonight's 87-86 loss to Oakland University at Alumni Hall.

                "I think we need a closer," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said after the game. "I don't think you can underestimate having experience on the floor when the game is on the line. The spirit of the locker room is fantastic. We can't continue to do what we are doing without some togetherness and some heart. But we are missing a closer."

                Closers usually come with a great deal of experience in pressure situations. One particular player that comes to mind is Jonathan Kasibabu, who once again showed how he can make a difference on this team by securing his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Unfortunately for the Stags, the forward's leadership and experience was put in check when he was whistled for his fifth foul in the closing minutes.

                So while Johnson may not have seen a closer in the final minutes tonight, there is no denying that this young team is getting a great deal of exposure to close games which should help develop that type of player sooner rather than later.

                The heart that Coach Johnson referred to was apparent throughout the game. Oakland averaged about 10 turnovers per game coming into this game, but the Stags tenacity forced the sure-handed Grizzlies into 20 turnovers. And, Fairfield turned those miscues into 31 points, a good portion of which came off fast-break opportunities.

                "I think this team is learning game to game about turning people over, getting better in transition, and getting better at shooting the ball," Coach Johnson said. "We are not that far away because we continue to put ourselves in position to win."

                The matchup featured several large leads by both teams, most of which disappeared with long runs and scoreless stretches.  Neither program could build much momentum in the early stages of the game as the two squads played to five lead changes and eight ties over the first ten minutes.

                Oakland managed to secure a three-point lead with 6:48 remaining in the first half at 29-26 before Fairfield put together the first string of points that pushed the game in its favor. The Stags scored the next 12 points to take a 38-29 lead, highlighted by four points from Jesus Cruz. The Golden Grizzlies quickly recovered from that Fairfield run by finishing the half with a 14-4 spurt that put the visiting team in front 43-42 at halftime.

                 The Golden Grizzlies continued to build on that slight lead by scoring 19 of the first 20 second-half points that increased their lead to 62-44 just four minutes into the game. Fairfield shaved points off that deficit by scoring the next seven points to bring the score to a more manageable 62-51 as Aidas Kavaliauskas was responsible for five of those points.

                  The Stags still trailed by 11 points with nine minutes remaining, 77-66, before Taj Benning scored five straight points to cut the lead nearly in half at 77-71. Oakland was able to inflate the lead to eight points a couple of times, the last coming at the 3:15 mark after Xavier Hill-Mais' layup pushed the score to 85-77.

                 Fairfield came back with a 9-2 spurt that cut the lead to 87-86 with 55 seconds on the clock. Freshman Felix Lemetti's three-point field goal ended that run for Fairfield, the freshman's second long-range basket of the half.

                "If Felix doesn't make some big shots down the stretch for us, we are not in the position to win this game," Coach Johnson said.

                But the Stags came up short on its final possession as a buzzer-beating shot fell off the rim to secure Oakland's win.

                "A lot of these guys have not been in this moment so it's painful," Coach Johnson said. "But we are so much better that we were three or four weeks ago so there is something to build on."

                 Neftali Alvarez posted a career-high 21 points to pace the Fairfield offense, while Cruz (12 points) and Benning (11 points) also reached double figures for the Stags. Hill-Mais ended the night with 21 points and six rebounds and was complemented by 19 points from Karmari Newman and 17 points from Jaevin Cumberland.
                 
                Fairfield finishes out the calendar year with three straight road games, beginning with a Sunday afternoon game at Old Dominion. The tip is slated for 1 pm.