Rich Kelly Has 40, But Fairfield Prevails in Double Overtime 102-98

Saturday, February 17

Webster Bank Arena (Bridgeport)

1:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

10-18, 7-9MAAC

102

Fairfield University

12-15, 7-9MAAC

OT 1

OT 2

Quinnipiac

Fairfield University

102

Rich Kelly Has 40, But Fairfield Prevails in Double Overtime 102-98

2/17/2018 4:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Freshman guard Rich Kelly (Shelton, Conn.) had 40 points to fall one shy of the Quinnipiac Division I record, but Fairfield was able to survive and take a 102-98 double-overtime win over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena. Kelly's three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation tied the score at 84-84 and forced it into the extra sessions.

SCORE
Fairfield 102, Quinnipiac 98 (2 OT)

LOCATION
Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard / Bridgeport, Conn.

RECORDS
Quinnipiac 10-18, 7-9 MAAC // Fairfield 12-15, 7-9 MAAC

GAME NOTES

Freshman guard Rich Kelly (Shelton, Conn.) came just one short of the Quinnipiac record of 41 points in a game, which is held by Rob Monroe, set against Longwood in 2004-05.
Kelly was fouled intentionally with six seconds left in the second overtime down by thee, and had a chance to tie or break it, but missed the first foul shot and then missed the second on purpose to try to get an offensive rebound.
Kelly also had seven three-pointers, which was one shy of the Quinnipiac's Division I record in that department as well.
Fairfield's Tyler Nelson (32 points), who became the school's al-time leading scorer early in the second half, had the key play in the second overtime when he had a steal and a layup to put the Stags up by three with 10 seconds left after the Bobcats earned a stop and had the chance to win.
Nelson had two free throws with 14 seconds left in regulation to put Fairfield up by three, but Kelly dribbled all the way under the basket looking for a kickout pass, circled back around to the top of the key, and hit the tying three-pointer with 2.1 on the clock.
Fairfield tried to run a play to get Nelson a shot in the final 2.1 seconds, but senior forward Alain Chigha (Yaounde, Cameroon) stayed right with him and he was unable to get off the winning shot.
Ferron Flavors scored the first four points of overtime on a three-pointer and a foul shot to put the Stags ahead 88-84, but Kelly hit a short bank shot and a three-pointer to give him 35 points and put the Bobcats ahead 89-88.
Jesus Cruz put the Stags ahead 92-91 with a layup with 24 seconds left that circled the rim several times before falling. Senior guard Cameron Young (Los Angeles, Calif.) tied it with a foul shot after drawing a Stags defender into the air with an up fake, and Nelson's off-balance shot to win hit off the side of the backboard.
Quinnipiac led by 12 at the half (45-33) after a blistering shooting stretch. After being down 9-3 five minutes in the Bobcats scored 42 points over the final 15 minutes, finishing the half shooting 54.8 percent.
Young had 16 points in the first half on 7-12 shooting, after starting out 1-4.
Chigha provided a big lift in the first half with two offensive rebounds on one possession to lead to a Young three, followed by a steal and a layup, and a three-pointer of his own.
Quinnipiac led by as many as 13 in the first half after Kelly knocked down his fourth three-pointer off of a feed from Young.
Coming into the game, the road team had won the last seven meetings that had been played in the schools' normal home venues (Quinnipiac won a neutral site meeting on Long Island earlier this season). The last eight meetings between the teams have now been decided by five poitns or less.
Quinnipiac has fallen twice in double-overtime on the road this season, after also losing in two extra sessions to Iona on Feb. 2.
The Bobcats have played 12 games this season that have been decided by two points or less or in overtime, going 7-5 in those games.
Rich Kelly and Cameron Young combined for 71 points, the highest point total for two Quinnipiac teammatees in its Division I history.

QUINNIPIAC STAT LEADERS
Points: Rich Kelly 40, Cameron Young 31
Rebounds: Cameron Young 9
Assists: Cameron Young 3, Rich Kelly 3

FAIRFIELD STAT LEADERS
Points: Tyler Nelson 32, Jonathan Kasibabu 22
Rebounds: Jonathan Kasibabu 15
Assists: Aidas Kavaliauskas 6, Tyler Nelson 5

UPCOMING GAMES
Quinnipiac will play its final two games of the regular season next week, taking on Saint Peter's at home on Friday night at 7 p.m. for Senior Night, and then closing at Manhattan on Sunday at 6 p.m.