Fairfield beats Quinnipiac, 56-52 in OT; Stags host Belmont on December 20.

FAIRFIELD TURNS BACK QUINNIPIAC 56-52 IN OT TO GO 2-0 IN MAAC PLAY; NEXT UP HOST BELMONT ON DECEMBER 20 Hamden, CT-The Fairfield Stags lifted their MAAC conference record to 2-0 with a 56-52 road overtime victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats at TD Sports Center on Sunday, December 7. Fairfield downed Manhattan in its MAAC home opener, 67-54, on Friday (December 5) Fairfield forward Marcus Gilbert, the Stags' leading scorer (14.9 ppg), nailed a three-pointer with one second left in regulation to‎ tie the game at 46.‎ Next up for the Stags: Fairfield hosts highly-regarded Belmont at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport on Saturday, December 20 at Webster Bank Area. For tickets visit www.stags.com. Fairfield outscored Quinnipiac, 10-6, in the extra session. Mike Kirkland, Jr. had four of his 13 points in OT. The Ocala, FL native hit a reverse layup to give the Stags a 48-46 lead at the start of overtime, and then a bank-shot late in overtime to put Fairfield up 53-48. It was a big day for the Gilbert brothers of Smyrna, Delaware (Academy of New Church) as center Malcolm Gilbert blocked three shots in the overtime to boost Fairfield‎, and hit a free throw to give Fairfield the lead for good at 49-48. Stevie Johnston, who hit a pair of foul shots to make the score 51-48, nailed a running one-hander for the final basket to ice the proceedings. Johnston led Fairfield scorers with 14 points, while Kirkland chipped in with 13. Fairfield led 26-18 at halftime. Quinnipiac began the second half with an 8-2 run to cut Fairfield's lead to two points, and took the lead with a 17-6 flourish. ‎ "We went to out best player and he came through for us," said Johnson of Marcus Gilbert's tying three pointer. "We practiced the play many times, so we were confident." The gritty Stags are now 4-3 under head coach Sydney Johnson.