BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Yorel Hawkins scored 25 points and Fairfield held off a late Iona surge for a 75-71 win Friday night, giving the Stags their sixth straight win.
Fairfield (18-4, 11-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), the league's top defensive team (55.0 points allowed) had a 14-point lead in the second half against the MAAC's top offensive team (79.0 points).
With the Stags leading 72-62 with 1:43 left, the Gaels (13-10, 7-5) used a 9-1 spurt, capped by Trinity Fields' layup with 25 seconds left, to get to 73-71.
Colin Nickerson hit 1 of 2 foul shots with 22 seconds left, then Hawkins went 1 for 2 with 6 seconds to go.
Ryan Olander added 19 points for the Stags, who shot 55.1 percent (27 of 49) from the field, but only 69 percent (20 of 29) from the line.
Michael Glover scored 18 points to lead Iona, which lost its fourth straight game by four points or less.
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