SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Derek Needham scored 24 points, helping Fairfield slug its way past St. Peter's, 54-47, and into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinals Saturday where it will meet Rider for the second straight season.

The seventh-seeded Stags (18-14) trailed 44-37 with 11:39 to go, but held the 10th-seeded Peacocks (9-21) to one point over the final 5:46.

"I don't want to go home yet," Needham said. "That was my whole thing talking to Colin (Nickerson) at the hotel. We didn't want to go home tonight."

Fairfield beat Rider, 65-63, in the quarterfinals last season.

The Stags swept the season series this year.

Coach Sydney Johnson was as diplomatic as possible when asked how he thinks his team matches up with the second-seeded Broncs (18-13).


"Kevin's done a great job," Johnson said. "We realize they've had more success in the conference play than us. We've been able to be successful against them, but it's tournament play, and everything is totally different."

In the first meeting, Fairfield forced Rider into 30 turnovers then won the second game at home behind a career-high 25 points for Maurice Barrow.

Barrow finished with nine points Friday night.

The Stags out-rebounded the Peacocks 39-23, including 16-6 on the offensive glass.

Desi Wahshington led St. Peter's with 13 points.

Trailing 48-46 in the final minute, the Peacocks unfortunately tipped the ball into their own basket off a missed shot by Nickerson. Amadou Sidibe was credited with the basket.

"Offense by accident," SP coach John Dunne said.

"We gave ourselves a chance to win with two minutes to go," Dunne continued. "That's what we wanted."

But  Fairfield got the bounce of the ball.

"We've had our back up against the wall where we've come up short the last week," Johnson said. "Our guys played inspired. Our seniors stepped up and willed us to win."
 

 Siena 70, Marist 64

O.D. Anosike scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the ninth-seeded Saints (8-23) as they knock off the eighth-seeded Red Foxes (10-21).

Marist came in winners of three straight and five of seven. It was even a trendy pick to perhaps give top-seeded Niagara some problems in the quarterfinals.

But Siena, which lost to the Red Foxes by two on March 1, got big baskets from Rob Poole (19 points), including a running bank shot with 2:01 left to give it a 64-61 lead and Trenity Burdine.

Burdine made 1 of 2 free throws following a Jay Bowie 3 to put the Saints up one with 1:01 left then drove in for a layup to make it a three-point game with 29 seconds remaining.

Chavauhgn Lewis (24 points) misfired on a 3 for Marist and Anosike scored the final three points, punctuating the game with a dunk.

Adam Kemp finished with 13 points and eight boards for the Red Foxes.