For the first time in six seasons the Stags men’s basketball team is off to a 2-0 start.

Following a victory over Central Connecticut State in the Connecticut Six, the Stags returned to campus to play the first of three games in Alumni Hall in front of 2,190 fans, including an energetic student section. Fairfield defeated Fordham 63-55 for its second straight win against the fellow Jesuit school from New York. Freshman guard Derek Needham continued his impressive start to the season with a game-high 19 points. Two other players finished with double doubles. Anthony Johnson scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Shimeek Johnson scored 13 points as well, with 10 rebounds. But the Stags shot just 29.4 percent from the field, holding Fordham to 30 percent from the field and forcing 13 turnovers.

“It was an ugly game,” said head coach Ed Cooley. “We knew we had a short preparation, coming off of Friday’s game. We thought if we do the little things we are going to give ourselves a chance at the end. In the start of the game we didn’t do the little things. I felt some of our guys were nervous, I don’t know if it was us playing in this building for the same time and we couldn’t get into a rhythm.”

“But the second half was a completely different team. We were energized, I felt we controlled the entire second half. We were physical, going to the glass, getting second shots. It was a testament to our young players and our veteran players grinding it out and trying to win a game anyway we can,” Cooley added.

The Stags shot just 25.9 percent in the second half, but out scored Fordham 13-3 on second chance points and 10-6 inside the paint.

Needham kept the Stags in front down the stretch after Cooley told him something on the sidelines trying to get him to lead. Although that something will stay private within the team, Needham said Cooley’s words sparked him to take over after a slow start.

“Our energy was low the first 14 minutes of the game. Everyone was just going to spots instead of playing basketball,” Needham said. “Once one guy gets started everyone gets energized. When I go to the sideline I hear Coach’s words and nobody else but him. I always want to do what Coach tells me, I don’t think he will lead me in the wrong direction.”

Needham also played tough defense on Fordham star point guard Jio Fontan, who scored 25 points against Maine in the Rams debut.

“I love the way he plays. That is a great basketball player,” Needham said. “Coach put me on him and I just wanted to compete with him. I just love the way he plays though.”

Anthony Johnson, who missed most of last season after blood clots were discovered in his lungs, scored 13 points, but left the games with cramps at the end, the second straight game that has happened.

“We have to do a better job keeping Anthony hydrated, whether we have to get him an IV at half time, it is really serious,” Cooley said. “This is two, games in a row he is cramping up.”

Cooley turned to Johnson and told him that he has to “do a better job prehydrating, drink some water before the game.”

Johnson said that although he was cramping and fell hard in the second half, he is feeling okay and is working his way back into good shape.

Cooley credited the play of Ryan Olander, the sophomore center who scored 10 points with five rebounds in 18 minutes of play, giving him the “game ball.”

“He had one big play after another, whether it was a blocked shot, a charge, dove on the ball for a loose ball,” Cooley said. “Those little things don’t show on the stat sheet, but he made a big difference in today’s game.”

The Stags now have another quick turnaround and a trip to College Park, Maryland to play the Terrapins in a battle against an ACC foe. It will be the first test of the year for the Stags.

“We are going down to Maryland, good luck. It’s going to be 18,000 people there and it is going to be a great experience for us with a young team early in the season to go on the road and face that,” Cooley said. “We are excited. We are going to give it the old MAAC-Stag try and see what happens.”

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