Rider escapes Fairfield in overtime, 54-52

Feb 5, 2015, 11:05 pm

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Teddy Okereafor knocked down a pair of free throws in overtime after Fairfield called for a timeout it did not have, lifting Rider to a 54-52 win Thursday night.

The win keeps Rider (15-9) in second place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, tied with Manhattan at 9-4.

Rider's Matt Lopez, who finished with 20 points, hit the second of two free throws with 1:22 left to tie the game, 43-43, but missed a go-ahead layup with :03 left.

Khalil Alford's layup with 1:25 left in overtime gave Fairfield a 51-47 lead, but Jerome Segura answered with a 3-pointer with :48 left to pull within one and Marcus Gilbert hit a pair of free throws to give the Stags the lead, 52-51.

Gilbert, who finished with 30 points, stole the ball with :11 left and the Stags (6-16, 4-8) tried to call time out and were assessed the technical foul.