Cruz, Taliaferro boost Fairfield past Iona 80-68
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Jesus Cruz scored 24 points and Landon Taliaferro added 19 and Fairfield beat Iona 80-68 on Sunday to end its four-game losing streak.
Fairfield (6-15, 3-6 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) won for the third time in its last nine contests whereas Iona (7-12, 5-3) started the day in a second-place tie with Canisius having won five of seven.
Cruz and Taliaferro each scored five points in the first three minutes as the Stages built a 10-0 lead. They extended the lead to 26-7 over the next 6 1/2 minutes and the Gaels never recovered from their slow start. Fairfield led 42-25 at halftime shooting 16 of 34 (47 percent) from the field including four 3-pointers.
E.J. Crawford made a pair of free throws with 3:06 to play to get Iona within 73-64 before Cruz and Taliaferro each made a pair of foul shots and Fairfield led by double digits the rest of the way.
Crawford scored a career-high 28 points for Iona. He set his previous career high of 26 on Jan. 29, 2018 in a 103-100 overtime road loss to the Stags.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Brian Dorsey
- Nathan Farrell
- Robert Snedden
2023-24 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac | 15-5 | - | 24-10 |
| Fairfield | 14-6 | 1 | 24-13 |
| Marist | 12-8 | 3 | 18-13 |
| Saint Peter's | 12-8 | 3 | 19-14 |
| Rider | 12-8 | 3 | 15-17 |
| Niagara | 11-9 | 4 | 16-16 |
| Iona | 10-10 | 5 | 16-17 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 9-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
| Canisius | 8-12 | 7 | 14-18 |
| Manhattan | 4-16 | 11 | 7-23 |
| Siena | 3-17 | 12 | 4-28 |
Men's College Basketball News
