Fairfield 79, Niagara 75

Sean Crawford scored 19 points, including all of Fairfield's final five points in the game's last 1:14, as the Stags edged Niagara 79-75 on Friday night in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Fairfield, which led for nearly the entire game, had just a 60-58 advantage with 7 1/2 minutes left to play. But Maurice Barrow's free throw started an 11-1 Lancers run that put the game out of reach, setting up Crawford's clutch free-throw shooting late.

Rakim Sanders, who came in leading the team in scoring with 18.1 per game, scored 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Stags. Ryan Olander added 15 points and Derek Needham 12 for Longwood, which snapped a two-game skid and has now won five straight against Niagara.

Juan'ya Green scored a game-high 35 points, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, to lead the Purple Eagles (3-4).