Despite the cold January winter weather and with the temperature dropping below the freezing mark outside Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, Fairfield’s Curtis Cobb was hot enough to lead his team to a comfortable 97-79 victory over Manhattan College, in the MAAC conference battle on Thursday evening.
Cobb wasted no time scoring early and swiftly on his way to tying a school record for three point field goals, shooting nine of twelve behind the line, as well as equaling a MAAC scoring record, with 46 points.
Manhattan got off to a slow start scoring only eleven points in the first ten minutes of the game to trail the Fairfield Stags by fifteen points 26-11. The Fairfield big men created problems for the Jasper guards who were looking to penetrate and score inside.
The Jaspers shot three of twelve, for 25%, from behind the three-point line, for the first half that resulted in a 54-33 deficit at the intermission.
Manhattan came out more energetic in the second half, scoring the first basket on a jumper by Zavier Turner, to cut the lead to 19 points, as the teams battled back and forth over the first six minutes of the half.
With 14:57 remaining, the Manhattan bench was assessed with a technical foul resulting in the ejection of Coach Steve Masiello, who had received a technical foul earlier in the game for objecting a call.
The Jaspers were able to reduce Fairfield’s lead to nine points on three different occasions, however, they were not able to sustain the intense effort needed to take the lead.
With the loss, the Jaspers record drops to 5-10 on the season, and 0-4 in the MAAC Conference. The Stags record improves to 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the MAAC. The Jaspers continue their play in the MAAC on Saturday afternoon when they will face Quinnipiac in Hamden Conn.