Halftime Update from Draddy

The Stags head into the half clinging to a 25-24 lead, which is only their second lead of the game. Fairfield took the lead 3-1 one minute into the game on a Jonathan Han three, but then after a Devin Austin three for Manhattan which gave the Jaspers the lead, Fairfield has was down for 16 minutes.

One injury note, Coach Ed Cooley tore his calf muscle during practice and is coaching in a brace and limping. However he has been on his feet most of the half and is as energetic as always.

• The Stags struggled to make shots during the 16 minute stretch that the Jaspers held the lead. Manhattan was able to contest most of the Stags shots and Fairfield had trouble finding an open man. The Stags turned the ball over once on a shot clock violation and also missed a couple open shots. Anthony Johnson airballed a wideopen shot from the block and Rich Flemming missed an open jumper from the foul line. The Stags also have 6 turnovers.
  
• Greg Nero is showing signs of a return to the player he was to start the season. He is the Stags leading scorer with 6 poiints and is 2-3 from the field.
  
• For most of the first half Manhattan outshot Fairfield, at the 7 minute mark they were outshooting the Stags 50% (7-for-14) to 35.3% (6-for-17), but heading into the break the margin has narrowed. Fairfield is still shooting just 10-for-27 (37%) but the Jaspers are 9-for-23 (39.1%)
• Arturo Dubois is having a much better game than he did in his first matchup against Fairfield this season, where foul trouble led to a scoreless night. Dubois is tied for the team high in scoring with 6 points and has just 1 foul.
• Mamadou Diakhate provided energy and hustle off the bench as the Stags worked their way back into the game. Diakhate did not score but had 2 rebounds and a key assist in just 4 minutes of play. Diakhate took the ball from Han on a fast break and made the extra pass to a wide open Herbie Allen who connected on a 3, which cut a 6 point Jaspers lead in half.

More after the game.

-Tom Cleary