SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Derek Needham scored 24 points and Fairfield allowed Saint Peter's only three points in the final 11 1/2 minutes of its 54-47 victory Friday night in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.
Seventh-seeded Fairfield (18-14), which snapped a three-game skid, meets No. 2 seed Rider Saturday.
Each team had long scoring droughts. Leading 21-11, the Stags didn't make another basket for 7 minutes. After the 10th-seeded Peacocks pulled ahead 26-24, Needham's 3-pointer gave Fairfield a 27-26 halftime advantage.
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