WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- While the Fairfield University men's basketball team led the University of Hartford for a majority of the game, it was a five-minute span in the second half that decided today's result. The Stags built a halftime lead and added to it early in the second half before the Hawks used a 10-0 run to erase a five-point deficit and secure its own five-point edge. Hartford would never trail from that point, finishing with a 67-54 win over Fairfield which completed a two-game sweep of the season series.

"It's hard to beat a really well-coached ball club twice in one week," Hartford Head Coach John Gallagher said. "They (Fairfield) are going to be an absolute handful. They have a group of young players that are going to be really, really good..

Over the last six days, the Stags played three times, held a halftime lead in all three games only to stumble in the second half. Fairfield held a 38-33 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the game after Jesus Cruz scored two of his game-best 16 points. Unfortunately, the Stags' offense stalled after the senior's basket as Hartford held the visiting team scoreless for the next three-plus minutes. During that span, the Hawks reeled off 10 straight points to gain their own five-point lead at 43-38 with nine minutes on the clock.

"We had the lead at halftime in the last three games but then had these second half implosions," Head Coach Jay Young said "It seems when the ball doesn't go in for us, it affects how we play on the other end of the floor. We just need to put a few more shots in but our offense shouldn't dictate how we play on the other side of the floor. We have had games like this before but in the past, we were able to dig in defensively and that carried us through. Our defense has been good in the first half but hasn't been good in the second half."

Chris Maidoh ended the run with a pair of free throws as he was fouled going for a layup at the 8:36 mark. After trading baskets to keep the three-point difference on the scoreboard, Hartford scored on consecutive possessions - a three-point field goal and a layup - to take its biggest lead to that point at 50-42 with 5:43 remaining. Jalen Leach, who has been the team's top scorer off the bench so far, stepped into a three-point shot that cut the lead to five with five minutes remaining.

Long-range shooting helped Fairfield in that situation but it was also the difference over the next few minutes as Hartford, which started the game 1 of 14 from long-range, netted three three-point field goals in a row that enabled the Hawks to push their lead to double figures at 59-47 with three minutes remaining. The Hawks would add one more point to the deficit by game's end, resulting in the 67-54 final score.

Cruz and Taj Benning carried the Stags offense for the second straight game by combining for 28 of the team's 54 points. Cruz netted seven of his 11 field goal attempts with three of those four errant shots coming from behind the three-point arc. He netted his first three-point field goal of the season at the first half buzzer that sent Fairfield into the locker room with a 30-27 lead. Benning added 12 points by connecting on six of 12 field goal attempts.

Hartford placed three student-athletes in double figures led by Traci Carter's 15 points and Moses Flowers 13 markers. Hunter Marks also reached double digits with his 10-point performance. Maidoh tallied four points to go along with his team-high eight rebounds while Tshiefu Ngalakulondi added seven points and seven rebounds with two assists for the Stags.

Fairfield will have a few days off before opening up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend, hosting preseason favorite Siena College on Friday and Saturday nights. Game time is slated for 7 pm at Alumni Hall both nights.