Fairfield Men Lose In CIT Semis; MAAC Teams Done

Now, MAAC basketball if officially over. The last team standing in national post-season play was the Fairfield men. The Stags went all the way to the College Invitaional Tournament's semifinal round, where they dropped a 64-59 decision to Mercer Saturday night before a crowd of 1,557 at Fairfield's on-campus Alumni Hall.

Fairfield finishes with a 22-15 record, one of four MAAC teams to surpass the 20-victory plateau in 2011-12.

And, Fairfield had its share of late-season success (getting to the MAAC tournament's championship game and, then, this advancement in the CIT) without its top guard, junior Derek Needham (foot injury) and played Saturday's game without Desmond Wade (hand), who stepped in so capably in Needham's absence.

Mercer took over early on Saturday with a 13-2 run midway through the first half that broke a 7-7 tie, but Fairfield was back to within five at the intermission and twice got to within a point in the second half before Mercer answered both times.

All things considered, a nice season for the Stags.