Fairfield University had four players post double figures in the scoring column, led by sophomore guard Derek Needham, and the visiting Stags outscored Canisius 12-2 over a span of 9:11 late in the second half en route to a 67-60 win Friday night in MAAC action in the Koessler Athletic Center. The win improves Fairfield to 14-4 overall and 7-1 in MAAC play, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 8-10 overall and 2-6 in league action.

For Canisius, sophomore guard Gaby Belardo scored a team-high 15 points, while senior forward Greg Logins chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. Senior Tomas Vazquez-Simmons was good for nine points and seven boards in the losing effort for Canisius, which was out rebounded by Fairfield by a 45-30 count, with the Stags corralling 18 offensive boards.

"Obviously, there was that stretch where we did not score, but we had good shots and good looks at the basket, we just couldn't get them to fall," Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta said. "We defended well in the halfcourt, but we have to be better on the glass. You can't defend like that and allow them to get offensive rebounds."

Needham scored his game-high 19 points after he went 6-for-12 from the field, 4-for-6 from 3-point range and 3-for-6 from the free-throw line to go with five assists, four rebounds and six turnovers in 34 minutes of action. Junior Ryan Olander added 15 points and nine rebounds to the winning effort for the Stags, while senior forward Yorel Hawkins posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Griffs took a 47-44 lead with 11:37 left in the game after freshman Chris Manhertz scored on a lay-up off an assist from teammate Alshwan Hymes. From there, Fairfield would score the game's next 12 points to take a 56-47 with 2:44 left in regulation time, highlighted by four points by Needham and four points from Olander. The Griffs cut the lead to seven at 56-49 with a lay-up by Vazquez-Simmons, but Fairfield pushed its cushion to 10 at 59-49 in the ensuing possession when Needham hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:56 left on the clock.

The Blue and Gold made one last push and cut the lead to five points at 63-58 with 47 seconds left thanks to a 3-point field goal by senior Robert Goldsberry, but Fairfield was able to seal the win by going 4-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds of the game. The Stags ended the night by shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range, while Canisius shot 37.9 percent from the floor and 23.8 percent from behind the arc.

In the closing moments of the first half, Fairfield led by six at 30-24 with 3:05 left before intermission, but six-straight points from Canisius knotted the game at 30-30 with 56 seconds left before halftime, capped by a driving lay-in by Belardo. Fairfield ended up taking the lead at the half by two at 32-30 following an offensive rebound and a tip-in by Hawkins.

Canisius continue its three-game MAAC homestand on Sunday when the team hosts Iona at 2 p.m. on Hall of Fame Day in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Gaels will enter Sunday's tilt tied atop the MAAC standing with Fairfield, as both teams are 7-1 in league play.