Despite shooting just 29.3 percent from the field and 17.9
percent from 3-point range, the Fairfield Stags were able to pull away with a
58-52 victory over Canisius College at HSBC Arena Saturday afternoon in a MAAC
contest. The Stags improved to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in league play while the
Golden Griffins dropped to 6-8 on the season and 1-2 in conference action.
Fairfield senior forward Anthony Johnson was good for 12
points and 13 rebounds in the win, while fellow senior Yorel Hawkins added 12
points and 10 boards as the visiting Stags defeated Canisius for the
third-straight time, dating back to last year. Freshman Derek Needham was
credited with 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals in the
winning effort.
For Canisius, junior Julius Coles led all scorers with 14
points to go with nine rebounds after he went 5-for-12 from the floor and
4-for-6 from 3-point land. Fellow junior Greg Logins chipped in 12 points and
five rebounds as the Griffs shot 35.7 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent
from 3-point range.
The difference in the game came on the glass, as the Stags
ended the day with a 49-42 advantage in rebounds, highlighted by 27 offensive
rebounds which accounted for 18 second-chance points. The Griffs turned the
ball over 20 times in the loss against Fairfield's 14 turnovers.
The Blue and Gold took a 23-22 lead into the locker room at
halftime after the first half saw seven lead changes and two ties. The game
remained tight through the second half before Canisius pulled to a 50-46 lead
following a 3-point field goal by Logins with 4:59 left on the clock. The Stags
answered with a 3-pointer of their own moments later and took a 51-50 lead on
their ensuing possession when Needham hit a jumper from the top of the key on a
fast break with 4:05 left to play.
Canisius took its final lead with 2:38 left in regulation
time when Logins laid one off the glass to give the Griffs a 52-51 advantage.
That basket would end up being Canisius' final points of the contest, as the
Stags closed out the game on a 7-0 run. Needham put the Stags in the lead for
good with 2:07 left to play with a lay-up, and the Stags sealed the win by
going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 39 seconds.
Canisius junior Elton Frazier scored eight points and pulled
down eight rebounds in the loss for Canisius, which has now dropped six of its
last eight games, dating back to Dec. 12. Tomas Vazquez-Simmons added seven
points, six rebounds and three blocks to the Griffs' effort, while Robert Goldsberry was credited with six points and a team-high six assists.
Canisius will return to action Monday, Jan. 4, when the team
hosts Iona in the Koessler Athletic Center. Tipoff between the Griffs and the
Gaels is set for 7 p.m.
Game Notes: The game was played in the HSBC Arena, the 44th
all-time contest in the building for Canisius... The Griffs are now 26-18
all-time downtown... This marked the third time Canisius and Fairfield played on
the HSBC Arena court, with the Stags winning two of those games... Fairfield's
29.3 percent effort from the field was the lowest shooting percentage for a
Canisius opponent since Howard shot 27.1 percent from the floor when the teams
met Dec. 1, 2008 in Washington, D.C... Canisius finished the day by going 5-for-8
from the free-throw line... The Griffs have been to the charity stripe a total of
13 times in their last two games.
