Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. ? Yorel Hawkins scored 12 second half points, including a decisive two handed dunk with 53 seconds remaining to give Fairfield (16-13, 9-8 MAAC) a 56-55 victory over Manhattan (16-12, 9-8 MAAC) at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Jaspers' junior guard Darryl Crawford led all scorers with 23 points, while teammate Andrew Gabriel posted his second double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) of the season. The result ensures a rematch between the two clubs next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the 2009 MAAC Championships in Albany.
The first 37 minutes of the contest resembled the teams' first match up of the season on Jan. 26 in Riverdale where the Jaspers' prevailed 65-60. For their second straight meeting, Manhattan and Fairfield were locked 25-25 at intermission. The Jaspers again charged out of the break with an offensive surge, this time a 14-4 run which was capped by back-to-back Crawford lay-ups. This gave Manhattan its largest lead of the contest, 39-29.
Manhattan maintained a comfortable advantage for the majority of the second stanza. Sophomore guard Chris Smith electrified the crowd with a one handed dunk over Hawkins with 7:09 remaining. Smith's completed the three point play with a free-throw giving the Jaspers a 47-41 advantage.
Stags' junior Mike Evanovich responded with a 3-pointer 29 seconds later to spark the comeback bid. Evanovich and Hawkins combined for Fairfield's final 15 points. Evanovich led the Stags with 17 points, while adding a game-high 14 rebounds.
Fairfield took its first lead of the second half with 2:08 remaining when Hawkins went in for an uncontested lay-up to go ahead 54-53. After a missed jumper by Crawford, the Jaspers caught a break when Fairfield freshman Jamal Turner missed the front end of a 1-and-1. On the ensuing possession, Gabriel regained the lead for Manhattan with a tip in for a single point edge.
Hawkins quickly retaliated with his sixth field goal of the second half, which gave the Stags the lead for good. Hawkins finished with 15 points on 7-for-16 shooting.
Manhattan point guard Antoine Pearson's game winning shot attempt with five seconds left was just off the mark as Fairfield held on for the win.
Smith led the Jaspers rebounding effort with 11 boards as Manhattan held the advantage on the glass 38-32. He added nine points to the effort.
Manhattan wraps up the regular-season slate on Sunday at Saint Peter's. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Jaspers will enter the 2009 MAAC Championships as either the #4 or #5 seed, depending on Sunday's league outcomes.
