Johnson scores 14, Needham scores 10 of 13 in final 4 minutes as Fairfield beats Loyola 65-60

Fairfield holds off Loyola 65-60

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Anthony Johnson had 14 points and Derek Needham scored 13 — including 10 in the last 3:58 — as Fairfield held off Loyola (Md.) 65-60 on Friday night.

The Stags (11-4, 4-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) led 49-38 with 10:41 left, but the Greyhounds (8-7, 1-4) used a 15-5 run to pull within 54-53 with 5:02 remaining. Needham, a freshman who has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week five times, then scored all eight of Fairfield’s points in an 8-2 run to make it 62-55.

After Robert Olson’s layup with 22 seconds left pulled Loyola within 63-60, Needham sank two free throws with 19 seconds to go to seal the win. The Greyhounds missed two layups in the final 8 seconds, with Johnson blocking Shane Walker’s attempt with 2 seconds left to finish with four blocks.

Jamal Barney scored 12 points to lead the Greyhounds and Olson added 10.

Loyola outrebounded Fairfield 32-29.