Fairfield's defense stops Bowling Green
| • | Pepperdine pushes past American, 82-69 |
| • | Taller opponents not big deal for IUPUI |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fairfield proved to be too tall of an order and too short of an order for Bowling Green last night.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
Led by its big man, Deng Gai, and its small man, Tyquawn Goode, the Fairfield (Conn.) Stags beat the Bowling Green Falcons, 70-60, in the first round of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Fairfield's DeWitt Maxwell, left, and Bowling Green's Kevin Netter battle in the first half.
"We never got invited to the Rainbow Classic before, so we had to come out and prove we're a good team," Gai said.
At 6-1, Fairfield has the best record among the eight teams in the tournament.
The Stags will play in a semifinal game against Pepperdine today at 5:05 p.m.
Pepperdine beat American, 82-69, in last night's second game.
• Saturday • Yesterday • Today • Tomorrow • Television: Live on KFVE (night games only). • Radio: UH games live on 1420 AM. • Ticket prices: Individual night sessions: $16 lower level, single seats only; $12 upper level. Individual day sessions: $5 general admission. • Parking: $3
"Defensively, I thought we did a real good job," said Fairfield head coach Tim O'Toole.
• Where: Stan Sheriff Center
The Stags held the Falcons to a season-low 32.2 field-goal percentage (19 of 59), including just 23.5 percent from 3-point range (4 of 17).
The Stags shot only 40.7 percent themselves (22 of 54), but they were an efficient 53.8 percent from 3-point range (7 of 13).
The unlikely long-range shooter was Goode, a 5-foot-5 junior. He came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points.
All of his points came in the decisive second half, including 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. He entered last night's game with three 3-pointers in 14 attempts in Fairfield's previous six games this season.
"Most of the teams do challenge me because they think I can't shoot and I can only play defense," Goode said. "But when I get an open look, I'm not afraid."
Gai was equally unafraid in the low post.
The 6-9 forward from Sudan finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. He entered the game as the nation's leading shot blocker with an average of 5.7 per game.
Fairfield led 26-24 at halftime and never relinquished it in the second half. Bowling Green tied the score twice and trailed 54-51 with four minutes remaining in the game.
But Goode responded with two 3-pointers and Gai hit two free throws and an emphatic dunk during a 10-4 run that put the Stags in control for good at 64-55.
"I just know I was open and feeling the stroke," Goode said. "I was just in rhythm the whole time."
Rob Thomson added 16 points and nine rebounds for Fairfield, and Terrence Todd had 13 points.
Josh Almanson led Bowling Green with 19 points, while Ron Lewis added 16.
The Falcons (3-6) will play American in a consolation game today at 1:35 p.m.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
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