Fairfield Basketball Defeats Siena for 3rd Place Tie in MAAC

Fairfield University ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎(18-11, 12-7 MAAC), scoring the first eight points in the second half, registered a critical MAAC victory for a third place tie in the conference standings, defeating Siena College (19-11, 12-7 MAAC), 76-69, at Webster Bank Arena on Wednesday night.

It was Fairfield’s sixth straight victory, the longest current winning streak in the MAAC, on Senior Night in Bridgeport. The Stags clinched a first-round bye in the MAAC tournament. Both Fairfield and Siena both have one game remaining in the regular season.

The Stags try to make it seven in a row Saturday afternoon at St. Peter’s, with tip off at 2:00 pm in Jersey City. That’s the regular season finale for both teams.

Sophomore Tyler Nelson iced the game, hitting two free throws to give Fairfield an eight point lead, 69-61, with 1:03 remaining. Nelson, 88 percent from the foul line this season to lead the MAAC, hit another pair in the final seconds to seal the deal. Nelson had 16 points to lead the Stags with freshman Matija Milin, also with 16 points, including two key free throws with less than a minute to go in the‎ contest.

Coleman Johnson blocked five shots to spark the defense for Fairfield.

The Stags scored the first 10 points of the game, and never relinquished the lead. The Saints cut the lead to one in the first half, but Fairfield regained a 10 point bulge, and led 39-32 at the intermission.

Siena staged a late rally, cutting a Fairfield 17-point second half lead to three, but was unable to get any closer.

It was Fairfield’s 18th win of the season, more than double last year’s win total of seven in the rejuvenated season for head coach Sydney Johnson. The Stags’ turnaround ranks in the top three most-improved teams in Division I this season.

Fairfield was without two key players and its top freshmen: Curtis Cobb sat out with an ankle injury, and Jerry Johnson, Jr., who missed his third straight due to the death of his father in Memphis.‎

Fairfield has won nine of its last 11.

Fairfield evened the season’s series against Siena, avenging the Saints 91-76 win in Albany on January 7.

Fairfield registered an earlier statement victory over perennial MAAC conference standout Iona on January 24. Marcus Gilbert was the catalyst in the wire-to-wire victory with 32 points on the strength of seven three-pointers, in his third 30-plus point performance of the season.