BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Taj Benning hit a layup at the buzzer to force overtime and Caleb Green sank the go-ahead jumper to beat the shot clock in the final seconds of the extra period to carry Fairfield University Men's Basketball to an 80-76 win over visiting Canisius on Monday night at Webster Bank Arena. Jesus Cruz netted 14 of his career-high 25 points in the second half and overtime to pace the Stags in their second straight MAAC home win.
 
"To win a game like this, you need guys to step up. Jesus played great, Taj and Caleb both hit big shots, and obviously we needed every point," said Head Coach Jay Young. "And credit to Canisius, I have a lot of respect for the way they played and the way they fought tonight."
 
The trio of Fairfield (12-13, 6-8 MAAC) captains combined for 50 of the Stags' 80 points. In addition to Cruz's 25 – which included a career-best five three-pointers on six attempts – Benning scored 17 and Green finished with eight.
 
Benning's buzzer beater in regulation capped a frantic final stretch. After Canisius rallied from a 10-point deficit, the lead changed hands seven times in the last three minutes of the period, including a Cruz layup with 34 seconds left to put the Stags in front, 70-69. Malek Green answered with two of his team-best 19 points and the Griffs got the stop they needed on the next Fairfield possession. However, Ahmadou Fofana would sink just one of two from the stripe, leaving the door open for Benning's slash to the rim and bucket to tie the game at 72-72 as time expired.
 
Canisius started the overtime scoring with a three-pointer, but the triple would be the visitors' only field goal of the extra session. Back-to-back scores from Cruz and Supreme Cook pushed the Stags back in front, 76-75 before Armon Harried split a pair of free throws to tie the game for the ninth and final time. After an empty trip each way, Green beat the shot clock with a pull-up jumper from the baseline to stake the Stags to a 78-76 edge with 14.2 seconds to play.
 
The Griffs managed a decent look from three-point range in the closing seconds, but the shot drew iron and Jalen Leach secured the rebound. The sophomore made two free throws with 2.6 seconds to go to ice the 80-76 win.
 
"The bottom line is that we made plays," Young said. "Taj and Caleb scored at key moments on great individual efforts. We got a big stop, a big rebound, and Jalen made two free throws. And that's how you pull out these close games – take advantage of the opportunities in front of you."
 
Cook's overtime bucket marked the last of his 10 points to go along with a game-high eight rebounds. The Stags were edged on the boards, 32-27, which the Griffs converted to a 16-10 lead in second-chance points.
 
Fairfield made up that difference in the turnover battle where, despite an uncharacteristic 14 giveaways to the Griffs' 12, the Stags were the more opportunistic squad with an 18-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
In addition to Green's 19 points, Canisius (8-18, 4-11 MAAC) got 15 apiece from Xzavier Long and Jordan Henderson.
 
Monday's game was the sixth of the season for the Stags where the final margin was either one possession or decided in overtime. Fairfield is 2-1 when a game goes longer than 40 minutes. It is also the fifth Fairfield win after trailing in the second half.
 
Another short turnaround awaits the Stags as action resumes at Webster Bank Arena with a 1 p.m. Wednesday matinee against visiting Manhattan. The Jaspers are 12-11 overall and 5-9 in the MAAC after most recently notching an 83-66 win at Quinnipiac this past Sunday.