Fairfield defeats slow-starting Marist 60-49

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) Derek Needham scored 16 points as Fairfield held Marist to 12 first-half points on the way to a 60-49 victory Monday night.

The victory tied the Stags (17-11, 12-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) with Loyola (Md.) for second place in the league, one game behind Iona.

Fairfield forced turnovers on the first four possessions by the Red Foxes (11-17, 5-11) and blocked a shot on their fifth possession. The Stags finished the half with a 28-12 lead.

Marist shot 16 percent (4 of 25) in its lowest-scoring half this season. It got no closer than nine points in the second half, 58-49 with 1:52 remaining.

Ryan Olander added 13 points for Fairfield, and Rakim Sanders had 12 points and nine rebounds. Needham's two 3-pointers in three attempts gave the junior guard 201 in his career.

Chavaughn Lewis led Marist with 19 points, 14 of them in the second half.

Updated February 20, 2012