Box Score                 ROCHESTER, Mich. – Never let it be said that the Fairfield University men's basketball can be counted out of any game this year. After playing five games that were decided by four points or less coming into today's contest with Oakland University, the Stags made it six with their 61-59 win in overtime. It was the team's third overtime game this season and improved its record to 2-1 in those outings.

                But this one was a little different for Head Coach Jay Young. Without his leading scorer Landon Taliaferro, Young looked on as Jesus Cruz became the team's top offensive option and the junior responded with a game-high 23 points including a burst of baskets in the closing minutes that turned the game for the Stags.

                "We knew that Jesus was going to have to have a day if we were going to score today," Coach Young said. "He really stepped up for us and it was huge. I am really proud of this team because they just kept grinding and grinding and won this game. The box score was not pretty offensively but we wanted to get on the bus today up one and that's we what we did."

                 The Stags had scored just five points through the first 13 minutes of the second half and found themselves down 51-38 with 5:19 remaining. Fairfield's defense took over and held the Golden Grizzlies scoreless for the rest of the second half and put together its own 13-0 run to send the game into overtime.

                Jesus Cruz scored the first nine of those 13 points but it was Vincent Eze's two free throws in a one-and-one situation with 35 seconds left in regulation that provided the tying points. Both teams had an opportunity to win the game in the closing seconds but neither shot connected and resulted in a 51-51 score after regulation.

                The Stags fell behind early in the overtime period when Xavier Hill-Mais dropped in a hook shot that pushed the score to 53-51 just 26 seconds into extra time. Taj Benning equalized the game with a pair of free throws, starting a 7-0 run by the Stags that helped them take control early in overtime. After getting a defensive stop, Cruz doubled Fairfield's advantage with a pair of paint points that made the score 55-53 with 3:23 remaining.

                Aidas Kavaliauskas, who gained the start in place of Taliaferro, stepped up and made it a two-possession game with a three-point field goal from the top of the key that allowed the visitors to take their biggest lead of the game at 58-53 with 2:39 on the clock.

                "Aidas hadn't played a lot of minutes since he returned but he hit a huge three for us that really put us in a good position," Young said. "Everybody who checked into the game contributed to this win."

                Oakland scored the next three points before Cruz answered with a basket to bring the lead back to four points, 60-56, with 20 seconds remaining. The Golden Grizzlies made it very interesting with just a few seconds remaining when Tray Maddox Jr. drained a three-pointer with the shot clock expiring that brought the Golden Grizzlies within a point at 60-59 with four seconds remaining.

                Benning was fouled on the next possession and the guard made one of two free throws to improve the lead to two points, 61-59, with three seconds left. After a timeout, Oakland's desperation three pointer from just inside the midcourt stripe missed everything and resulted in the Stags coming away with an incredible 61-59 victory in overtime.

                Benning joined Cruz as the team's two double digit scorers with 10 points while Chris Maidoh added seven points by hitting all three of his field goal attempts including a three pointer. Hill-Mais paced Oakland with 20 points while Daniel Oladapo contributed with 16 points.

                The Stags have a week off before continuing their four-game road trip, heading to Wagner College on Saturday, December 28.