Balanc's Game-Winner Lifts QU Past Fairfield in Thriller

Sunday, January 28

Fairfield, CT / Leo D. Mahoney Arena

2:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

16-4,8-1MAAC

Fairfield

12-8,6-3MAAC

Quinnipiac

Fairfield

Photo by: Cam Boon

Balanc's Game-Winner Lifts QU Past Fairfield in Thriller

1/28/2024 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Matt Balanc made a driving layup with three seconds left, leading Quinnipiac Men's Basketball to a road win over Fairfield, 66-64, on Sunday afternoon at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.

Balanc made a layup in the paint with 52 seconds left to tie the game at 64, then converted on the game-winning attempt to send Quinnipiac back to Hamden with a victory.

Quinnipiac moves to 16-4 (8-1 MAAC) with the victory – the program's best start since 1978-79. The Bobcats sit atop the MAAC standings through nine league contests.

QU finishes the month of January with a perfect 7-0 record, marking the Bobcats' first unbeaten calendar month in the program's Division I history (minimum 3 games).

Balanc led QU with 13 points (5-12 FG), three rebounds and three assists. Amarri Tice added a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds). Paul Otieno chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.

FINAL SCORE
Quinnipiac 66, Fairfield 64

LOCATION
Leo D. Mahoney Arena | Fairfield, Conn.

DATE
Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024

QU Stat Leaders
Points: Matt Balanc 13
Assists: Savion Lewis 8
Rebounds: Amarri Tice 11
Steals: Savion Lewis 2
Blocks: Springs, Tice 1

BIG. BUCKET. BALANC. @MBalanc x #BobcatNation pic.twitter.com/eFG5NjbIvZ
— Quinnipiac Men's Basketball (@QU_MBB) January 28, 2024

NOTES

Matt Balanc led the scoring charge with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists over 32+ minutes. He's averaging 18.4 PPG this year, recording 10+ points in all but one contest.
Amarri Tice added 12 points and 11 rebounds, good for his fifth double-double of the season. He shot 5-of-9 from the field.
Paul Otieno recorded eight points and eight rebounds (perfect 4-of-4 shooting).
Alexis Reyes recorded nine points in 26+ minutes.
Rihards Vavers added nine points off the bench, shooting 3-of-6 from the field.
QU shot 47.2% (25-53) in total, knocking down six 3-pointers in the victory. The Bobcats outscored Fairfield 34-31 in the second half of action.
Quinnipiac's bench outscored the Stags 20-13, and the Bobcats held a slim 34-32 advantage on points in the paint.
The Bobcats led for 27:24 in total.
QU is now 14-7 against the Stags since joining the MAAC. The Bobcats have taken four of the last five meetings.

NEXT UP

The Bobcats return to play on Friday, Feb. 2, traveling to Manhattan to continue the league schedule.
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac men's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_MBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/mbb.