FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Ryan Olander scored a career-high 23 points and Fairfield beat Army 68-61 on Friday for its eighth win in a row. The streak is the longest under fifth-year coach Ed Cooley.
Derek Needham added 17 points, Yorel Hawkins had 11 and Maurice Barrow had 11 rebounds for the Stags (9-3). The score was tied 10 times and the Stags matched their largest lead at 62-54 with 2 minutes remaining. Army cut it to 64-61 after a 3-pointer by Jason Pancoe with 24 seconds left, but Fairfield free throws iced the game.
Fairfield dominated close to the basket, outscoring Army 34-10 in the paint. The Stags also scored 20 points off 20 Army turnovers and held Army to 39.2-percent shooting (20 for 51) from the field.
Jeremy Hence scored 14 points, Julian Simmons added 13, Nathan Hedgecock had 11 and Ella Ellis 10 for the Black Knights (6-7), whose two-game winning streak was snapped.