FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- You have to make your free throws is something that coaches have been preaching for years and years. This afternoon, it's a mantra that Jesus Cruz kept close to his heart as the junior made all 13 of his free throw attempts, a performance that helped spark the Fairfield University men's basketball team to come-from-behind 63-55 victory against Canisius College on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.

                 It didn't take long for Cruz to remember the last time he had such success at the charity stripe.

                "The only game I can remember was when I was 12," Cruz said. "I remember because you don't typically don't do that from the line. I wasn't shooting a good percentage from the line this season so it was great to come out and make 13."

                With his accuracy from the line, Cruz was able to score a game-high 21 points, his fourth 20-point game of the season and seventh of his career. Cruz's last performance above 20 points was also in a come-from-behind victory as his 23 markers sent Fairfield home with a 61-59 overtime decision over Oakland University.

                "Today was his day at the free throw so that was a big difference for him today," Head Coach Jay Young said. "He also had seven rebounds and came up with some huge baskets for us."

                Both teams enjoyed leads throughout the game but the opponent always seemed to find a way to battle through and work back into the game. Today's game featured eight lead changes and nine tied scores so it was no surprise that this game wasn't settled until late in the second half.

                Fairfield trailed by six points with 12:22 remaining in the game after Jordan Henderson's fast-break layup pushed the score to 43-37. The Stags fought their way back into the game over the next seven minutes with most of the damage being done by senior Landon Taliaferro. The guard scored eight points, all inside the three-point line, during Fairfield's 18-5 run that put the home team in front, 55-48, at the 5:50 mark.

                "Creating shots inside the line is something that he needs to do more," Coach Young said. "He was relying a little too heavy on the three and teams are not allowing him to take it. So we have been working on him putting it down on the floor a little more and he brought that into the game today."

                After Taliaferro's jumper tied the game at 48-48, Cruz was able to put Fairfield in the lead for good with two free throws on the team's next possession. The run continued with a basket from Taj Benning and two more free throws from Cruz that helped the team increase its lead late in the game.

                The Golden Griffins cut the deficit to five points after a layup from Jacco Fritz brought the score to 55-50 at the 5:26 mark but a basket from Cruz and two more free throws from Taliaferro gave Fairfield its biggest lead of the game at 59-50 with 3:29 remaining.

                Taliaferro finished the contest with 16 points while Chris Maidoh picked up a game-high nine rebounds for Fairfield. Malik Johnson paced the Canisius offense with 17 points.

                "I thought in the second half we were just back on our heels defensively," Coach Young said. "I wanted us to be up a little more and be more active. We worked on turning them over more and that lead to transition that resulted in some easy baskets which is something we needed. Canisius is a good team and very well coached so it was a good win for us for sure."

                Fairfield has four days off before heading to Rider University on January 29 for a 7 pm game in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Stags return home on Tuesday, February 4 when they host Monmouth University at Webster Bank Arena.