Boxscore

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yorel Hawkins scored a game-high 16 points to lead five players in double figures as Fairfield defeated Howard, 81-60 in a non-conference men's basketball game at Burr Gymnasium.

The Stags (4-1) used a 21-0 run over a nine-minute stretch of the first half to bolt to a 27-8 lead and a comfortable 41-21 lead at the half.  Fairfield shot 53 percent from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

"We're not paying attention to the scouting report," explained Howard head coach Gil Jackson.  "We told them all week long that they were a good outside shooting team and that their bigs were excellent three-point shooters."

Derek Needham and Mike Evanovich did most of the damage, combining for 5-of-8 from the three-point line.  While they were effective from long range, it was Ryan Olander who proved to be a force in the paint with nine points on 4 of 5 shooting.

In the second half, Howard (0-6) rallied on the play of Calvin Thompson, Adam Walker and Kyle Riley to get the deficit to a workable margin on four different occasions, but each time, Hawkins, Lyndon Jordan (12 points) or Sean Crawford would have an answer.

"Fairfield has experience, they are well coached and they trust each other," said Coach Jackson.  "This team has to know that we have to make plays when we get in those situations.  It's frustrating, but they are young players."

Thompson again led the Bison with 15 points while Walker tallied 11 and Riley contributed 10.

Olander (14 points) and Evanovich (12 points) combined for 26 while Needham and Jordan scored 13 and 12, respectively for the Stags.

NEXT UP: The Bison will try to get their first win when they travel to Buffalo, NY to take on Canisius on Saturday at 3:15 pm.