FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Jake Wojcik made two free throws with one-tenth of a second left as Fairfield University Men's Basketball erased a five-point deficit in the final 20 seconds to force overtime with visiting Niagara on Friday evening at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. However, the Purple Eagles were the aggressors in the extra session, pulling away for a 77-69 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference decision. Caleb Fields and Supreme Cook each scored 17 points, with Cook also hauling in a season-best 17 rebounds.
After the overtime contest – the first of the year for both teams – Fairfield moves to 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the MAAC. Niagara earns its fourth straight win, improving to 9-5 on the season and 4-1 in conference action.
The Stags' last minute comeback came after falling behind 59-54 with 1:30 to play. Following a minute of scoreless basketball, Fairfield got the miss it needed at the free throw line, then TJ Long hit an off-balance three-pointer with 20 seconds to go, trimming the margin to 59-57. Niagara followed with 1-for-2 from the line, and Fields answered with a pair of foul shots, changing the tally to 60-59 in favor of the Purple Eagles. This time, the visitors made both at the stripe, running the lead back to 62-59 with 12 seconds to play.
Fields was once again fouled intentionally and again delivered with a pair of charity tosses. The free throw exhibition continued as Niagara made 1-for-2 again, setting the stage at 63-61 with six second to go. Wojcik pushed the ball up the court and missed his initial try at the rim. However, the fifth-year senior grabbed his own miss and was fouled, heading to the line with 0.1 seconds showing on the clock.
Between an official review and a Niagara full timeout, Wojcik waited four minutes between the foul and receiving the ball for his first free throw but calmly swished both tosses to send the contest into overtime tied at 63-63.
However, Niagara came out of the gates firing, scoring on all but one of their possessions in the bonus frame. Cook accounted for all six of the Stags' overtime points but could not keep pace with the Purple Eagles, who this time went 6-for-6 at the stripe to protect the lead down the stretch and eke out a 77-69 win.
In addition to 17 apiece for Cook and Fields, Allan Jeanne-Rose netted nine points and Chris Maidoh scored eight. Wojcik's clutch free throws capped a seven-point day, with Jalen Leach adding six and Long scoring four. Cook's 17 rebounds – matching the most by a MAAC player this season – guided the Stags to a 44-40 advantage on the glass.
"We've got to find some answers offensively," said Head Coach Jay Young. "We had a strong defensive first half, obviously holding them to 24 is a good number, but we didn't defend well enough throughout the game to overcome our offensive inefficiencies. It's been frustrating; we've just got to make a few more shots."
Niagara was led by 30 points for Aaron Gray and 21 by Noah Thomasson, who entered the game as the MAAC's leading scorer. Joe Kasperzyk also reached double figures with 13 for the Purple Eagles.
Tonight's game capped a seven-game homestand for the Stags, who will now hit the road for the first time since Dec. 1. Fairfield visits projected MAAC favorite Iona on Friday, Jan. 13 then travels to reigning conference champion Saint Peter's on Sunday, Jan. 15 before returning to Mahoney Arena to host Canisius on Friday, Jan. 20.
