BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Head Coach Sydney Johnson talked about finishing games on several occasions as the men's basketball team stayed close but had not found a consistent way to pull out a victory. That all changed on Friday night as the Stags used a 7-2 run over the final three minutes to earn a 60-56 win over Monmouth University at Webster Bank Arena.

The start of the game was controlled by Monmouth as the visitors scored 10 of the first 12 points to grab an eight-point lead at 10-2 by the first media time out. Maurice Barrow netted a three-point field goal to cut that deal to five points, a shot that would help get the Fairfield offense back into the flow. The Stags slowly chipped away at the initial lead and eventually rallied to tie the game at 22-22 with three minutes remaining.

The final 180 seconds of the half would feature two more ties and no lead larger than three points before Monmouth would settle for a 28-27 lead. Marcus Gilbert was the Stags' top scorer with six points while Andrew Nicholas added the same point total to the Monmouth cause.

The second half went much better for the Fairfield offense as it would take its first lead of the game six minutes into the period. KJ Rose's jumper was the difference which made the score 36-34 with 14:31 remaining. The Stags would continue to build on its lead over the next six minutes.

Fairfield owned its biggest advantage at 49-40 with eight minutes remaining but Monmouth responded with a 12-0 run that erased that deficit and pushed the Hawks in front at 52-49 with 4:55 on the clock. Rose broke the run with a pair of free throws that brought the Stags within a point at 52-51 and followed with a layup on the team's next possession that put the home team back in front at 53-52 with 4:06 remaining.

After Deon Jones missed a jumper, Tyrone O'Garro grabbed the offensive rebound and laid the ball into the basket to recapture the lead for Monmouth at 54-53, the team's last lead of the game. Barrow answered with a jumper at the 1:40 mark that sent Fairfield back into the lead. Barrow added a pair of free throw to push the lead to three points with 36 seconds left.

Monmouth nearly tied the game when Max DiLeo was fouled on a three-point attempt with four seconds left. The guard made the first two free throws but had to wait on the third try as Fairfield called a time out. When he returned to the line, DiLeo missed the free throw. Amadou Sidibe grabbed the rebound, his 10th of the game, and was fouled immediately with three seconds left. He made both free throws to make it a three-point lead.

The Hawks inbounded the ball and tried to call time out but Andrew Nicholas was ruled out of bounds which gave the ball back to Fairfield. Steve Johnston made the first of two free throws which sealed the win with one second remaining.

Marcus Gilbert and Rose paced the Fairfield offense wtih 15 points each while Barrow came off the bench to add 11 points. Nicholas led all scorers with 16 points while O'Garro was the game's top rebounder with 11.