Box Score BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – A buzzer-beating three pointer from Desi Washington erased a two-point Fairfield University (3-12 overall, 0-5 MAAC) lead as the Saint Peter's University (5-9 overall, 1-4 MAAC) overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to post a 56-55 decision over the Stags' men's basketball team at Webster Bank Arena. Justin Jenkins, who received his first start of the season, tied his career-high with 16 points for Fairfield.

The Stags led for most of the game as Coleman Johnson and Amadou Sidibe opened the contest with a pair of points each before Trevis Wyche made a three-point field goal to bring the Peacocks within a point at 4-3. Jenkins wrapped six points around a Saint Peter's layup by converting a three-point play and adding a three-point field goal. The lead reached as many as eight points at 17-9 when Marcus Gilbert netted a three pointer at the 13:16 mark.

Fairfield's lead would reach nine points at 20-11 with 11:40 on the clock but the Peacocks would slowly whittle that lead down over the five minutes. The visitors came as close as four points when Jamel Fields recorded a three-point field goal at the 6:48 mark to make the score 24-20. Fairfield would finish out the half with a 7-3 run to take a 31-23 advantage into the locker room.

Jenkins finished the half with 10 points while Gilbert and Coleman Johnson posted six points for the Stags. Quadir Welton was the top scorer for Saint Peter's, registering six points in 12 minutes of work.

Fairfield built on its halftime lead by starting the period with five straight points – a layup from Sidibe and a three-point field goal from Jenkins. The Peacocks managed to cut the deficit back to 10 points but the Stags responded with seven straight points, a run started by a three-point play from Maurice Barrow, to provide Fairfield with its biggest lead of the game, 43-26 with 11:26 remaining.

Saint Peter's cut that disadvantage in half with nine straight points with five of those points coming from Fields, making it a 43-35 game with 8:41 on the clock. Barrow ended the Saint Peter's string with two free throws, pushing the lead back to 10 points at 45-35. The Peacocks continued its comeback bid with four consecutive points to pull within six at 45-39 at the 7:25 mark.

Fairfield would hang on to the lead until Fields' three-point field goal tied the game at 49-49 with 2:24 remaining, before Sean Grennan quickly recaptured the lead with two free throws with 1:36 in regulation. The Peacocks finally secured the lead when Trevis Wyche posted two free throws followed by a fast-break layup from Chris Burke to make it a 53-51 advantage for the visitors.

The Stags were unable to score on the next possession, but a turnover gave them some life with 29 seconds remaining. Desi Washington was called for a technical foul after the turnover, sending Grennan to the line. The guard made one of two free throws to make it 53-52, and then added a layup eight seconds later for a 54-53 Fairfield lead with 21 seconds on the clock.

Marvin Dominique missed a jumper with 11 seconds left and Sidibe came down with the rebound. A few seconds later, Jenkins was fouled and the sophomore converted one of two charity tosses to make it a two-point lead with seven seconds left. The Peacocks inbounded the ball and found Washington open just outside the three-point line. The guard's shot touched all net at the buzzer to lift the Peacocks to the victory.

Marcus Gilbert and Barrow each finished with 10 points for Fairfield, while Fields led all Saint Peter's scorers with 13 points. Wyche added 12 markers for Saint Peter's.

The Stags will continue Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Friday, January 10 when they head to Iona College for a 7 pm game.