Fairfield withstands Loyola rally, 86-76

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fairfield University (5-6, 1-1) ran up leads of 11-0 and 21-4, then needed a late five-point spurt to pull away from Loyola College, 86-76, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Alumni Hall last night.

Despite Kevin Green's 17 first-half points, Loyola (5-7, 0-3) trailed, 48-33, at halftime.

Kevin Anderson, Green and Tracy Bergan brought the Greyhounds back in the second half, when Anderson had 13 of his 16 points, Green added 11 and Bergan had seven of his school-record-equaling 11 assists. Loyola cut the margin to 62-59 on a free throw by George Sereikas with 10 minutes, 24 seconds remaining, and four other times got within three.

The last was at 68-65 on a layup by Derek Campbell with 6:47 left. But the Stags ran off the next five points, and the margin did not dip below six the rest of the way. It was the third straight loss for Loyola. Fairfield ended a five-game losing streak, its longest in five years.