BRIDGEPORT, CONN. (November 21, 2015)—The Sacred Heart men's basketball team's comeback was cut short as the Pioneers fell to Fairfield 83-79 in an overtime thriller at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. in the second game of the 2015 Crosstown Classic. Six Pioneers reached double-digit points with Cane Broome (East Hartford, Conn.) leading the way with 18. The loss drops SHU to 1-3 on the season, while the Stags clinch their first win of the year, 1-3.

Fairfield took its largest lead of the night, 12 points, 62-50, on Jerome Segura's layup with 9:57 remaining in the game, but the Pioneers worked their way all the way back evening the score at 62 with SHU's 12-point streak culminating in an Allen layup before the 6:40 media timeout

The break didn't slow Sacred Heart as Matej Bouvac (Zagreb, Croatia) chased his shot getting the rebound under the basket and putting it back in and putting SHU on top for the first time since 7:29 in the first half. Fairfield was quick to knot the score again at 64, and with a triple from Segura retook the lead inside the five-minute mark. Down 72-71 with 1:46 left, Allen was sent to the line for two shots. The graduate student missed the first, but tied the game with the second The Pioneers had two chances in the final minute to make the winning bucket thanks to Fairfield turnovers, but couldn't sink one sending the game into overtime

With 42 second remaining in the overtime period, Bouvac snagged an errant Fairfield pass dishing it out to Broome who found Tevin Falzon (Newton, Mass.) under the basket. The senior banked it in once again bringing SHU within one point, 78-77. Jerome Segura got sent to the line for two shots as McKnight was called for a foul with 24 seconds remaining. Knocking down both the sophomore widened the gap. Moments later, Marcus Gilbert went to the line for Fairfield hitting one of two

- With time ticking away, Falzon took a shot from the top of the key, which bounced off the rim. McKnight was right there to tip it in making it a one-bucket game. As the clock read just 2.6 seconds, SHU Head Coach Anthony Latina called a timeout to draw up a play, but the Pioneers were unable to score at the buzzer

Noteworthy:

- Falzon and Bouvac made their first appearances and starts of the season Saturday night. The duo combined for 23 points

- Quincy McKnight (Bridgeport, Conn.) set a new a new career-best with 14 points

Inside the Box:

- SHU saw six Pioneers reach double figure scoring for the first time this season. In addition to Broome's 18, McKnight tallied 14, Jordan Allen (Bayshore, N.Y.) had 13, Falon posted 12 and Bouvac and Chris Robinson (Bronx, N.Y.) each recorded 11

First Half:

- The Pioneers dominated the opening minutes seemingly unable to miss a shot. In their first game of the season, Buovac and Falzon led the SHU offense with back-to-back treys for the first six points

- Four of the five starters were a part of SHU's 13-0 opening run as McKnight landed a pair of jumpers and Broome hit a shot from beyond the arc

- The Stags took their first lead with a three from Jerry Johnson Jr. at the 14:05 marker, 14-13. Despite SHU always remaining within five points, Fairfield maintained the lead over the next five minutes

- Robinson tied the game at 24 draining a shot from the right wing, but Matija Milin answered for the Stags with a jumper giving Fairfield back the advantage

- The Pioneers broke through for a lead with a McKnight jumper, 28-26, but once again the Stags were quick to retake the lead stringing together a pair of lay-ups

- With Sacred Heart down just 37-34 after a pair of McKnight free throws, the Stags went on an eight-point streak, featuring four points from Kasibabu, to end the half with a 45-31 lead

Second Half:

- Just like the previous half, Bouvac opened the second period with a triple. Combined with a made free throw, a dunk and a lay-in from Jordan Allen, SHU once again started on a hot streak, scoring eight unanswered points to trail just 45-42

- A tip-in from Kasibabu halted the Pioneers' streak and five points from Johnson further expanded the Stags' lead

- Fairfield took its largest lead of the game of 12 points, 62-50, on Jerome Segura's layup with 9:57 remaining in the game

- The Pioneers worked their way all the way back, though, evening the score at 62 with SHU's 12-point streak culminating in an Allen layup before the 6:40 media timeout

- The break didn't slow Sacred Heart as Bouvac chased his shot getting the rebound under the basket and putting in back in putting SHU on top for the first time since 7:29 in the first half. Fairfield was quick to knot the score again at 64 and with a triple from Segura retook the lead inside the five-minute mark

- Down 72-71 with 1:46 left, Allen was sent to the line for two shots. The graduate student missed the first, but tied the game with the second

- The Pioneers had two chances in the final minute to make the winning bucket thanks to Fairfield turnovers, but couldn't sink one sending the game into overtime

Overtime:

 - Kasibabu notched the first of 11 Fairfield points of the overtime period in the paint

- The Pioneers relied on free throws to help them out in overtime scoring three from the charity stripe (shooting 3-for-6)

- With 42 second remaining, Bouvac snagged an errant Fairfield pass dishing it out to Broome who found Falzon under the basket. The senior banked it in once again bringing SHU within one point, 78-77

- Segura got sent to the line for two shots as McKnight was called for a foul with 24 seconds remaining. Knocking down both the sophomore widened the gap. Moments later, Marcus Gilbert went to the line for Fairfield hitting one of two

- With time ticking away, Falzon took a shot from the top of the key, which bounced off the rim. McKnight was right there to tip it in making it a one-bucket game. As the clock read just 2.6 seconds, SHU Head Coach Anthony Latina called a timeout to draw up a play, but the Pioneers were unable to score at the buzzer