It was a good way to end.
Seniors Yorel Hawkins and Lyndon Jordan embraced on the court knowing
that this would be the last time walking on the court at the Webster
Bank Arena. They might have come up short, losing 72-68 to the Kent
State Golden Flashes, thus ending Fairfield’s NIT run, but their
energy and hearts were high.
Hawkins scored 11 points combined for 8 rebounds and a game high 7
assists while Jordan added 8 tallies and 6 boards gaining his second
straight start. The 7 seed became the first team since the
tournament expanded to 32 teams to win back-to-back road games.
The 3,954 people in attendance saw a game that was back and forth for
much of the 40 minutes.
The Stags trailed by 6 with around 4 minutes remaining but cut the
deficit to as little as 2 with 18 seconds remaining. Fairfield
continued to struggle from the free throw line. At one point they
missed 5 of their 6 shots. Kent State made those shots to hold on for
the win.
The 2010-2011 season is now over. It will be a year that will be
written in the record books as one of the best statistically in
Fairfield history.
Coach Cooley said after the game that no loss should take away from
what this program has done. With the whispers of Cooley’s move to
Providence becoming loud Fairfield talk, next year remains a question
mark.
We know it was the end of Yorel Hawkins, Lyndon Jordan, and Warren
Edney, but it also might be the end of Coach Cooley.
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