HARTFORD – With 30 seconds to go in the game and trailing by seven to Mississippi, it appeared that Fairfield’s night was over.
Fifteen seconds later senior guard Michael Van Schaick nailed a three-pointer to cut the Rebels’ lead to three. After Clarence Sanders hit a free throw for Mississippi to bring their lead up to five, Van Schaick was again called upon to hit a big shot and once again the captain came through hitting a three to bring the lead down to just one point.
Unfortunately for the Stags, Danny Oglesby `07 could not make a three pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. The Stags fell 70-67 in their third close game of the season and dropped to 0-4 on the year. Head Coach Ed Cooley said he was pleased with the team’s performance but knows that they can still improve.
“I am really happy with our players effort, but still turnovers on valuable possessions at the end of the game are costing us.”
Oglesby received a pass from Jonathan Han `08, who had raced down the court with just six seconds left. Han then saw Oglesby open in the corner, but the shot was off target and the game ended.
“I am very happy with Jon Han making the extra pass, I thought it was unbelievable, he could have made the selfish play and taken the shot, but instead made the pass, Cooley said. “Oglesby came off the bench and was cold and I think that is a good lesson for our players, that they will never know when their number will be called.” The Stags struggled at the end of the first half, after playing the Rebels close for the first fifteen minutes. Fairfield had its first lead of the game with ten minutes left in the half, as Herbie Allen `08 banked in a three pointer to give the Stags a 14-11 lead.
Freshman Greg Nero, who is the team’s leading scorer with 18.3 points per game, scored seven straight points to pull the Stags ahead by five with six minutes left in the half.
Mississippi then regained the momentum and went on a 20-5 run over the final five minutes of the half to take a 37-28 lead heading into halftime. The Rebels ended the half with a three pointer at the buzzer from leading scorer Bam Doyne, who raced down the court and hit a running shot.
“They got a little momentum coming down to the second half, defensively we had some lapses and with young kids on the floor, sometimes you just get lost based on not having enough experience,” Stags Head Coach Ed Cooley said.
The Stags shot 39.3 percent from the floor, but were just 1-8 from behind the arc. But they did convert on all five free throws they had. The Stags turned the ball over seven times during the half and controlled the paint, scoring 16 points to the Rebels eight.
Fairfield played much stronger in the second half, as Anthony Johnson hit a layup three minutes in, Ogelsby hit a three pointer and the Rebels were called for goaltending on a Marty O’Sullivan `07 shot, which made the score 42-37.
Mississippi then took control back again, expanding its lead to ten with fourteen minutes to go, as Boyne hit a three. That lead only lasted a few minutes as Van Schaick hit a three pointer to cut the lead to seven and Nero grabbed an offensive rebound and put the ball back in to bring it even closer, at 48-42. The Rebels seemed ready to pull away with four minutes left, but a Han three brought the score to 62-53. Fairfield came out of nowhere with an explosion of offense, as Nero laid the ball in to bring the score to 64-59 and then after Doyne hit two free throws, Allen made two of his own to make the score 66-61. The ball then came to the captain Van Schaick who made the first of his two clutch threes to make the game close, with the Stags down by three.
Fairfield put the pressure on, but could not come up with a steal, forcing Allen to foul Sanders, who missed both free throws to give the Stags a chance. Van Schaick’s second three pointer brought the lead down to one, as the UConn fans who had arrived for the Huskies’ game against Central Arkansas loudly cheered on the Stags.
“The big thing is we just need to get a shot up in that situation, whether it is me or someone else,” Van Schaik said, “I have been struggling a bit with my shot this season and I got that one to fall.”
Justin Cerasoli was sent to the free throw line after Anthony Johnson almost came up with a steal, and made both free throws to bring the lead back to three. Ogelsby was then unable to hit the final shot, ending the game. The Stags shot 39.3 percent in the second half once again, while Mississippi shot only 36.9 percent and went 1-12 from long distance. Fairfield out rebounded the Rebels in the game, grabbing 39 boards to Mississippi’s 34. Turnovers were again costly for the Stags, as they had 16 and only forced 9.
The Stags were not intimidated by the SEC opponent, as everyone including the freshmen did not back down. Nero believed that this type of game gives the freshmen confidence, “When you go out there confidence does play a factor, but I just look to get post position and focus on every play.”
Cooley emphasized the fact that the Stags are not intimidated by any team saying, “We don’t care who we play against, Fairfield University is not inferior to anyone, we play as hard as we can no matter what name is on the other jersey.”
Mississippi Head Coach Andy Kennedy said he thinks that the Stags will find their first win and be a tough team. “It is a tribute to Ed and his group of kids that they kept battling,” he said, “Even though they are 0-3 they are getting great experience and will be okay.”
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