BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The combination of Supreme Cook and Jesus Cruz provided the Fairfield University with another dominant performance inside the lane but the performance did not overcome a strong second half by Manhattan College as the Jaspers outlasted the Stags by a 74-67 count at Webster Bank Arena.

Cook was responsible for 17 points while Cruz added 14 points off the bench, accounting for most of the team's 32 paint points. But foul trouble hampered the duo late in the game with Cruz eventually fouling out in the closing minute and Cook playing with four fouls. Fairfield committed 25 fouls in the game which resulted in Manhattan going to the free throw line 33 times, converting 30 of those opportunities.

"We gave them the free throw line and didn't do a good job of defending without fouling," Head Coach Jay Young said. "We can't allow a team to go to the free throw line 33 times and expect to win. We pride ourselves on defending without fouling but we didn't do that today."

What the Stags did was score down low with Cook, Cruz and support from Chris Maidoh. When Manhattan turned up the pressure to try and get Fairfield to the turn the ball over, the Stags were able to take advantage by getting the ball down court into the hands of their big men.

"Those guys were good inside today," Coach Young said. "The way that Manhattan pressured us allowed for them to have one-on-one coverage and we were able to take advantage of that."

That advantage started early for the Stags as Cook was responsible for four of the first eight points with both baskets coming off dunks. Mix in a three pointer from both Green and Wojcik and Fairfield quickly had an 11-2 lead.

The Jaspers fought back and took the lead by tallying 12 of the next 13 points scored in the game, pushing the score to 14-12 with 10 minutes remaining. The Stags tied the game on the next possession following another Cook dunk, setting off a string of five lead changes over the two minutes. Fairfield was the last to come out on top after a Cruz jump shot and a pair of Wojcik free throws gave the home team a 21-18 lead with eight minutes left.

Manhattan regained the lead one time over the final eight minutes which occurred off Warren Williams' basket and made the score 26-25 with just over three minutes left in the half. Cook made one free throw to tie the game and added another dunk on the next possession to regain the Fairfield advantage at 28-26. Cruz tacked on a three-point field goal after a missed Manhattan jumper to establish a five-point lead and allowed Fairfield to hold the lead at halftime.

The second half started well for the Stags as they were able to build on their three-point halftime lead as Cook's basket put the lead at 37-32 just a minute into the period. Manhattan answered with eight straight points to take its first lead of the second half as Nick Brennen's three-point shot ended the run.

Fairfield responded with another Cook basket followed by Taj Benning's three pointer to recapture the lead at 42-40. The two teams worked their way into a pair of ties following that three pointer the last of which came at 51-51 after a Cruz layup. The Jaspers scored the next seven points to take their biggest lead of the game to that point.

The Stags were able to cut the lead to four points on three occasions with Cook and Cruz accounting for those baskets but Manhattan continued to make its free throws down the stretch.

Maidoh joined Cruz as the Stags' two reserves to reach double figures, netting 10 points by making four of his five field goal attempts and a pair of free throws. Cook also paced Fairfield on the glass with seven rebounds. Manhattan was led by Jose Perez and Ant Nelson who added 21 and 18 points, respectively.

Fairfield returns to Webster Bank Arena for its next game when it hosts Saint Peter's University on Friday, February 18. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm.