by Joe Budzelek
(@stf_ncaa)
In tonight’s battle for sole possession of second place in the MAAC, the Niagara Purple Eagles completed the regular season sweep of the Fairfield Stags, winning 65-to-63 at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, CT on Friday Night. Similar to their first victory over the Stags, Niagara’s victory was a balanced attack with all five starters finishing in double-digits, led by freshman sensation Ahmad Henderson II’s fifteen points and sophomore Harlan Obioha’s fifth double-double of the season.
Winning six of their last eight games since their 96-to-72 shellacking by Niagara at the Gallagher Center, the Stags entered tonight with a major boost from freshman center Peyton Smith (ankle) and senior shooter Brycen Goodine (knee) returning after multi-game absences. However, the pair’s rust was still present as the pair combined for one point and four turnovers.
After hitting 62% of their shot attempts in the first matchup against Fairfield, Niagara's hot shooting against Fairfield continued in the first half, hitting nearly 70% of their shots across the game’s opening twelve minutes. In the middle of the half, a seven-minute-long Niagara 13-to-1 run was capitalized by a thunderous Dre Bullock dunk.
Fairfield’s quartet of talented guards were held to an uncharacteristic start, scoring a total of ten points in the first half and were a main contributor to the Stags shooting woes as the team made just one-third of their inside-the-arc shot attempts in the first half. While the guards struggled, Fairfield’s frontcourt helped hold Niagara’s halftime lead to six as Alexis Yetna and James Johns Jr. combined to score nineteen points by halftime, highlighted by an end-of-half layup from Yetna after reining in a cross-court Hail Mary pass from Jasper Floyd.
In the second half, the script flipped as Yetna and Johns Jr. combined to score just three points, while the Stags’ starting backcourt of Caleb Fields, Jasper Floyd and Jalen Leach scored a total of 29 points. After missing all five of his shot attempts in the first half, Caleb Fields opened the second half swishing a corner three, igniting the Stags’ opening five point run. Fields saved his best play for the final six minutes, scoring ten points throughout that span.
Despite the Stags’ defensive improve in the second half and Fields’ valiant late-game effort, the fifth-year senior was unable to hit the game-winning three as time expired. Niagara's win tonight continued the Purple Eagles' perfect road record in MAAC conference play.
On Sunday, Fairfield will host Mount St. Mary’s (11-14 overall, 7-7 in MAAC play) on Sunday while Niagara will continue their Connecticut road trip as they visit the first place Quinnipiac Bobcats.
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