Riverdale, NY - Fairfield shot 61.9 percent (26-of-42) in posting a 66-50 win over Manhattan in the regular season finale for each team at Draddy Gymnasium.
Sophomore Samir Stewart (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) scored a team-high 12 points, while senior Tyler Reynolds (Syracuse, NY / Harcum College) added 11 points and classmate Pauly Paulicap (Elmont, NY / Harcum College) 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Prior to the game, Reynolds, Jesse Boyce (Thornwood, NY / Westlake) and manager Mackenzie Cooper were recognized for their contributions to the program in a Senior Night ceremony.
The Jaspers will be the No. 9 seed for the 2020 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's & Women's Championships in Atlantic City, NJ and square off with the Stags on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:00 pm.Thank you to our senior class??????!#JasperNation #BronxBuilt pic.twitter.com/Kh2f4HfmRN
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 7, 2020
Fairfield took a 34-17 lead at the break thanks to 11 points from Jesus Cruz and nine from Landon Taliaferro in the first 20 minutes of action. After halftime, the Stags quickly pushed their lead out to 21 on a pair of occasions, before the Jaspers made their move.
Stewart hit a jumper, before Paulicap sank two free throws and Stewart a three pointer to trim the deficit to 40-26 with 16:18 to play.
After Fairfield briefly answered with back-to-back buckets, Reynolds hit a triple, Paulicap split a pair from the line and Stewart drained a three pointer to cap another 7-0 run while trimming the Stag lead to 44-33 with 11:58 to play.Stewart buries the triple!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 7, 2020
Fairfield 44 Manhattan 33 with 11:24 to play in the second half.
Watch live on ESPN3: https://t.co/I5wrqFjUI0 pic.twitter.com/QHt1eTnAWm
Manhattan would continue to fight and used an 11-4 spurt to make it a 50-44 game with 7:13 remaining following a Reynolds backdoor layup off another Stewart feed.Stewart buries the triple!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 7, 2020
Fairfield 44 Manhattan 33 with 11:24 to play in the second half.
Watch live on ESPN3: https://t.co/I5wrqFjUI0 pic.twitter.com/QHt1eTnAWm
Unfortunately, Fairfield would respond with six-straight points as the Stag advantage wouldn't drop below double-digits for the rest of the game.Another S-Tyler delivery!
— Manhattan Basketball (@JaspersMBB) March 7, 2020
Fairfield 52 Manhattan 44 with 5:34 to play in regulation.
Catch all the action on ESPN3: https://t.co/I5wrqFjUI0 pic.twitter.com/oLZSZ5rXM9
The Jaspers finish the regular season at 12-17 and 8-12 in the MAAC, while the Stags improve to 12-19 and 8-12 in the league.
Cruz finished with 21 points off the bench, while Taliaferro added 19 points.