Le Moyne men’s basketball drops non-conference finale, 78-72, to Fairfield

Fairfield, Conn. – Caleb Fields scored a career-high 27 points as Fairfield University held on for a 78-72 victory over the Le Moyne College men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.

“We can’t turn the ball over 20 times plain and simple,” said head coach Nate Champion. “That’s something we pride ourselves on and we knew they’re active on the defensive end, but 20 turnovers is just unacceptable. That’s just a matter of toughness and not only like physical toughness, but a sense of pride to like as a player, just having somebody that’s not going to take the ball from you. So for us, like having 20 turnovers, I mean we had 19 assists. If we cut that down to you know, 10 or 11 turnovers, it’s, I think, a different story, but we didn’t, and that’s been kind of the story of us in close games so far this year. We have to figure out ways to win close games because when the NEC starts, every game in the conference, no matter which conference you’re in, is going to be a close one. So for us, we have to understand that, we have to figure out ways to win in close games and execute late and close games. And then also, we can’t dig ourselves a hole. I mean, we get down 14 points there in the second half because we’re turning the ball over. We’re taking quick, uncharacteristic shots that we shouldn’t be taking in the offense. And then that leads to break out points on it and for us we’re in basically scramble mode on defense, and we just can’t do that. We have to understand when teams are going to run we have to really work the ball and get good shots to combat what they’re doing on offense.”

>> Box score

Graduate student forward Luke Sutherland (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee/Siena/Bryant) led the Dolphins with 16 points, including 14 in the second half, a season-high nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Junior forward Ocypher Owens (Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian Prep/Indian River State)…