NORFOLK, Va. – Less than 72 hours ago, Landon Taliaferro did not make a three-point field goal for the first time in his Fairfield career, missing all four attempts. Like all good athletes, Taliaferro put that performance behind him, turned the page in the score book, and concentrated on today's game against Old Dominion.

 The guard made six shots from behind the arc which led him to a game-high 18 points as the Fairfield University men's basketball team fell to the Monarchs, 79-69.

 "For me, it's all about effort," Taliaferro said. "It's more about sprinting off the screens today and kicking into that higher gear that I know I have. That's really what was different from the game against Oakland."

Fairfield's ability to get open beyond the three-point line was a big part of being able stay close and at times lead their Conference USA opponent. The Stags had 12 three-point field goals with Lemetti adding three on top of Taliaferro's success.

But the double-digit loss, one of only three results for the Stags this year that was not three points or less, was a bit deceiving because Fairfield showed mettle and moxie throughout the game.

For example, Fairfield was able to overcome a seven-point first-half deficit and eventually take a four-point lead at halftime, 37-33. Taliaferro was part of the team's first-half run as the junior netted the second of two three pointers that turned a 19-12 deficit into a 21-18 edge in just 70 seconds. Taj Benning made the first of those long-range jumpers to start the run.

The Stags would still trail by six points, 26-20, with 5:51 left in the half but finished the rest of the time with a 17-7 run that turned that deficit into a four-point lead at intermission. The heart of Fairfield's first half play was Jonathan Kasibabu, who nearly had a double-double in the opening 20 minutes. The senior ended the half with 11 points and nine rebounds but those numbers pale in comparison to their importance as the forward seemed to get the rebound or score the basket when Fairfield need to stay close to ODU.

Old Dominion came out in the second half and found its offensive touch right from the start, using a 17-4 run over the first six minutes of the period to take its biggest lead to that point at 50-41. The Stags showed some of that tenacity but weathering that start and scoring the next seven points – a layup from Jesus Cruz and a three pointer from both Lemetti and Taliaferro - to cut the deficit to one point, 50-49.

The Monarchs managed to inflate the lead back to four points before Lemetti and Taliaferro sandwiched a three-point field goal around an ODU layup to tie the game at 55-55. After Old Dominion scored on its next possession, Matija Milin used a three-point play to recapture the lead for the Stags at 58-57 with eight minutes on the clock.

The Monarchs were able to take the lead with three successive points, giving a chance to Taliaferro for another big three pointer which the junior converted to give Fairfield its last lead of the game at 61-60. Old Dominion scored the next 10 points to take control of the game at 70-61 with four minutes left in the game.

"We competed really hard and stayed together today and that showed during those second-half runs," Taliaferro said. "But Coach Johnson said that we needed to execute down the stretch in order to win games like this. Our effort was there but our execution late in the game was the difference."

Kasibabu completed a double-double today with 13 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out late in the second half. Ahmad Caver led Old Dominion with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

Fairfield will continue its three-game road trip when it travels to Boston College on December 16 for a 1 pm game at Conte Forum.