By Gary Kauffman
Fairfield snapped a five-game losing streak in a big way Saturday night, downing Bremen 57-35.
"It felt like a good thing, especially the way the last three have been real tight," Falcon coach John Wysong said.
Four of the five losses were by three points or less, and the last three games by two or one point.
Justin Scott continued his comeback from a knee injury during the football season, turning in a well-rounded game against the Lions.
Scott scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, made five steals and dished out an assist.
"He's made big strides back," Wysong said. "He's doing other things besides just scoring."
Wysong also praised the play off the bench by Chandler Kauffman, Darin Hochstetler and Brian Ulrich. Kauffman and Ulrich each scored seven and Hochstetler four.
Kauffman also had five rebounds and led the team with four assists. Hochstetler had two assists. Ulrich made a clutch shot at the end of the first half.
Unlike some of the previous games, the Falcons got off to a quick start Saturday night.
Scott and Tanner Foust accounted for all 16 of Fairfield's points in the opening period. Scott scored nine and Foust seven.
With the score 4-3, Foust scored on a tip-in and Scott scored two baskets and made a free throw.
After Bremen scored three points, Scott scored again and Foust closed the quarter with a three-point play for a 16-6 lead.
The Lions, though, managed to close the gap in the second. A basket by Tyler Pfeiffer and a 3 by Cody Barrier cut the Falcon lead to six in the final minute of the half.
But Ulrich then hit a a short jumper at the buzzer to push Fairfield's halftime lead to 27-19.
"That bucket was a biggie because they were hanging in there," Wysong said.
Fairfield then put the game away in the third behind Scott and Kauffman. A 3-pointer by Ulrich in the final seconds made it 43-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
"We did good things in the third and fourth quarters, especially the third," Wysong said.
Fairfield shot 56 percent from the field (22-39) and went 10 for 12 from the free throw line. Scott was 8 for 10 from the field and perfect from the line.
