FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the second time in as many home games, the Fairfield University men's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking defeat at Alumni Hall. This time, the Stags saw a double-digit halftime lead dissipate by game's end as Rider University completed its comeback with a layup in the closing seconds to edge the home team by an 83-82 count.

"I think it's fair to say that down the stretch we did a poor job of executing and did not get the looks we wanted," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "We had 20 turnovers in the game and that's just way too many. It's just painful growth for us. But you also have to credit Rider because they played well and hard on the ball."

While Fairfield may have been guilty of execution issues in the second half, the team showed few flaws in the first 20 minutes. After Rider took a 2-0 lead in the first minute of play, the Stags reeled off 10 straight points, the last of which came off the hands of Landon Taliaferro. The junior gave Fairfield its first lead with a driving layup and followed with back-to-back three-point field goals to build the eight-point lead.

The start was exactly what Taliaferro needed after scoring a season-low two points in the win at New Hampshire. It was apparent to the thousand-plus fans that this would be a special night for the guard. Taliaferro netted four three pointers in the first half and matched that total in the second half to finish the game with eight long-range jumpers on his way to a personal-best 29 points.

"Landon is one of the best shooters I have ever coached," Coach Johnson said. "I think if we get him some looks, not only can he score but he can take some pressure off and make things easier for other guys. We don't question his ability to make shots. He just needs to execute plays and keep shooting because we know he will make them."

Taliaferro held his momentum in the second half by making his first three-point try in the opening minute which turned Fairfield's 14-point halftime lead into a game-best 17 point edge at 52-35. Rider scored the next six points, including back-to-back layups from Kimar Williams to come within 11 points at 52-41. After a Fairfield free throw from Jonathan Kasibabu, Rider continued to cut into the lead with another 6-0 run which brought deficit down to 53-47 at the 16:02 mark. The Broncs would eventually pull within a possession after Frederick Scott's fast break layup made the score 61-58 with 12 minutes on the clock.

Fairfield responded with 10 consecutive points which recaptured its double-digit lead at 71-58 as Taliaferro posted two more three pointers and Kasibabu added a three-point play. That lead would stay intact for another two minutes at 77-64 after another Kasibabu layup.

From that point, Rider would systemically reduce Fairfield's lead over the remaining eight minutes. Down by six points with four minutes left, 80-74, Rider scored the next five points to make it a one-point game with 3:52 remaining. Kasibabu would provide some relief with an additional layup with 3:36 remaining but Marshall closed out the game with the final four points of the night, the last of which proved to be the difference in the waning seconds.

"We simply have to be better at our game management," Coach Johnson said. "We need to learn from our mistakes. The confidence, the work ethic, and the talent is there. But I definitely think that basketball IQ wise is where we need to grow. Our guys understand that we can win games in our league and there is no team outside our reach. As we move game to game, we need to learn the value of the basketball down the stretch. We do it all the time in practice but we need to do it game situations which is where games are won and lost."

The Stags will play their first road game of the MAAC schedule on Saturday when they head to New Rochelle for a 1 pm match up with Iona College.