Bridgeport, CT (November 30, 2004)- Freshman
Jeff Xavier connected on both end of a one-and-one with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation as Manhattan overcame a five point deficit with 20 seconds left to send the game into overtime, before dropping an 81-73, double overtime decision to Fairfield tonight at the Arena at Harbor Yard in the MAAC opener for both teams.
With the Jaspers down five, 54-49, with 20 seconds left in regulation following two Tyquawn Goode free throws, a
Jason Wingate three cut the deficit to two with 11 seconds remaining. After Deng Gai converted one of two from the line, Wingate was fouled by Gai while attempting a three-pointer, sending him to the line with three seconds remaining. Wingate missed the first, but made the next two to bring Manhattan within one, 55-54. The Jaspers immediately fouled Gai on the inbounds, and Gai made just one of two, and Xavier was fouled with 0.2 seconds to go at half court, setting up his free throws that sent the game into overtime.
Xavier continued his hot shooting in the first overtime, as Manhattan raced out to a 67-60 lead behind nine points from Xavier and an
Arturo Dubois layup, but Fairfield responded by scoring seven straight to send the game into double overtime.
In the second overtime, the Stags built an early lead, and Manhattan could not muster another comeback in dropping to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in MAAC play.
Manhattan opened the game on a 8-0 run, holding the Stags without a point for the first 9:02 of the game, until Tyquawn Goode converted a layup, which sparked a 6-0 Fairfield run to bring the Stags within two, 8-6, with 7:50 left before halftime.
After Goode's layup, Dewitt Maxwell scored the next 10 Fairfield points, making the score 14-12 Manhattan with 3:54 left before the break. A Goode three-pointer gave the Stags their first lead of the night, 15-14, 3:15 before halftime, and the teams alternated the next three baskets, capped by a
Peter Mulligan three to give Manhattan a 19-17 lead with 1:18 before halftime, before Fairfield scored the last five points of the half to go into the locker room up three, 22-19.
Manhattan's 19 first half total is the Jaspers' lowest halftime score since December 29, 2003, when Manhattan scored just 15 first half points against Penn in the Championship Game of the Dreyfus Holiday Festival.
Manhattan knotted the score at 25-25 after
Mike Konovelchick stole the ball and fed Mulligan for a layup. Konovelchick gave the Jaspers a 30-28 lead with a three before Deng Gai brought Fairfield even at 30-30 with a follow dunk with 15:39 left in the game.
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Kenny Minor three gave Manhattan a 35-30 lead with 15:13 left, and Jaspers pushed the lead to nine, 47-38 on a long range Mulligan three with 6:44 left. Fairfield responded with a 13-0 run to take the lead at 52-47, capped by a Terrence Todd layup with 1:42 left. Dubois answered with a layup to pull the Jaspers within three, 52-49, with 45 seconds remaining, setting up Goode's two free throws and Xavier's last second heroics.
Mulligan led four Jaspers in double figures with 19 points. Joining him in double figures were Dubois (14 points, seven rebounds), and Wingate and Xavier, who each tallied 11. The 11 points were the first in Xavier's collegiate career.
DeWitt Maxwell and Todd each scored a game-high 22 points to lead Fairfield.
Manhattan returns to action on Sunday, December 5, when the Jaspers travel to Raleigh, NC to take on the #16/#13 North Carolina State Wolfpack at the RBC Center, which hosted Manhattan's memorable NCAA Tournament run last season. The game, which tips at 5:30 p.m., will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
