Cobb, Gilbert combine for 45, Fairfield tops Niagara 71-59

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) Curtis Cobb and Marcus Gilbert combined for 45 points and Fairfield extended its season-best win streak to five games after defeating Niagara 71-59 on Saturday.

The freshman Cobb made 7 of 8 field goals, including 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range, and Gilbert, a senior, shot 8 for 12 from the floor with four 3-pointers. The pair made seven of the Stags' 10 treys.

Fairfield (17-11, 11-7 Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference) opened with a Cobb 3 less than a minute into the game, and took the lead for good, 16-10 after back-to-back 3s from Matija Milin and Gilbert.

Tyler Nelson and Milin each scored 13 points for Fairfield which built a 30-10 lead early.

Matt Scott scored 13 points to lead Niagara, which closed the first half on a 15-5 run, trailing 35-25 at the break. Cameron Fowler, Marvin Prochet and Emile Blackman scored 12 points apiece for the Purple Eagles (7-22, 5-13).