FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It's always interesting to identify when a game turns and what precisely turned it. Usually, there is a run of points or a blocked shot that can ignite a team toward a win. Today, it was neither of those factors that translated into the final decision. For the Fairfield University men's basketball team, the turning point came on a foul that sent senior Jonathan Kasibabu to the bench with his third foul.

                "Canisius is a good team that can come at you in many ways," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "But for me, the biggest thing they (Canisius) did was drawing a third foul on Jonathan. We are a different team with Jonathan on the bench. We tried to stay there with Canisius after he sat down but we are just different when he is not out there."

                There is no denying the impact that Kasibabu has had on the Stags recently, including today with a double-double that consisted of 16 points and 13 rebounds. Over the last 11 games, Kasibabu is the team's leading scorer with 13.5 points per game and rebounder with 10.5 caroms per contest. And, the senior would be hard pressed to be more accurate with his shot, netting 65 percent of his attempts during the 11-game stretch.

                So when the forward was whistled for his third foul just seconds into the half, Canisius was just one point down as it was at half time. Kasibabu did not return to the game until 11 minutes were remaining in the game and the Golden Griffs secured a five-point lead at 43-38.

                Canisius would pull ahead by as many as 12 points in the half and still held a 10-point lead with two minutes remaining in the game. Fairfield fought back brilliantly, beginning with a three-point field goal from Landon Taliaferro that was well beyond NBA range. The three pointer was first for the junior as he finished the game 1 for 8 behind the arc today.

                Fairfield still trailed by seven points with 43 seconds remaining but the team would not show any surrender as it made the visitors squirm in the closing seconds. With the score standing at 70-63, Kasibabu made a layup that brought the score down to 70-65 with 18 seconds left. Isaiah Reese made one of two free throws on the next Canisius possession to keep the lead at two possessions, 71-65.

                Aidas Kavaliauskas cut the lead in the half with a driving layup that drew a foul, cutting the lead in half at 71-68. The Stags put full pressure on the inbound pass but Canisius was able to get the ball in play with four seconds left. Fairfield fouled to send Reese back to the line, but this time the forward converted both shots to end the threat.

                When Kasibabu was on the bench, the Stags picked up offense from Jesus Cruz, who scored a team-best 21 points for his 20-point effort in three games. Senior Matija Milin scored five points and added two rebounds in his first action since an eye injury sidelined him for the last three days.

                "We are looking for consistency especially when Jonathan is not in the game," Johnson said. "But Matija has not practiced for three days but the okay today. He tried to make some winning plays but obviously his timing was off. He missed a couple of layups that would have bridged the gap when Jonathan was out but the layoff was a factor for him."
                The Stags netted just four three pointers this afternoon, well below their MAAC leading average of 9.6 three pointers per game. Neftali Alvarez, Calvin Whipple, Cruz, and Taliaferro each made one long-range jumper today while the team combined for 4 of 19 shooting from behind the arc.

                "Sometimes you come away from a game like this and say things looked choppy," Johnson said, ."I think Canisius played good defense but there were opportunities that we did not reward ourselves especially from the three-point line. We have been able to make those shots in the past and that puts us in a good spot. The key was that we were able to create shots and get good looks. Unfortunately, the shots didn't fall today."

                Neftali Alvarez also reached double figures with 11 points and dished off a team-best three assists. Jibreel Faulkner paced Canisius' offense with 16 points while Reese ended the game with 15 points and seven rebounds.

                The Stags will play the second of its three-game home stand on Thursday night when they host Siena College at Webster Bank Arena. The game is scheduled for a 7 pm tip.