BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – In two different halves, there were two different stories for the Fairfield University men's basketball team. The first half provided plenty of points and a seven-point lead for the Stags. The second half saw the offense struggle at times, scoring just 27 points which turned that halftime advantage into an 86-74 loss to Monmouth University at Webster Bank Arena.

                “I think their (Monmouth) experience showed through because they stuck to what they do and we got off what we do in terms of sharing the ball and getting quality shots,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “Our turnovers led to transition and points.”

                Fairfield, which committed just 15 turnovers total in its previous two games, was forced into 18 turnovers by the Hawks. And just as important, Monmouth scored 31 of its 86 points off those turnovers and enjoyed a 17-0 edge in points off turnovers in the second half.

                While the second half did not go as planned, the first half was everything the Stags could hope for over a 20-minute stretch. Fairfield shot 55 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range to hold the lead through nearly the entire period of play. After Monmouth secured an 11-6 lead over the first four minutes, Fairfield used a 16-5 to erase the deficit and take a seven-point advantage at 23-16 with 12:34 on the clock.

                A bulk of that run came from behind the three-point arc as Jerry Johnson Jr., Kevin Degnan, and Curtis Cobb each made a shot from long range on consecutive possessions that turned the five-point disadvantage into a one-point lead at 17-16. Cobb would make three of four three-point attempts and score a team-best 13 points through the first 20 minutes. By the time halftime came, Fairfield enjoyed a 47-40 lead.

                Somewhere between the locker room and court, Monmouth forward Micah Seaborn found his shooting touch. And it was that touch that would provide problems for the Stags in the second half. The redshirt freshman went on to score 17 points on his way to 24 points in the game. But more important than the number scored was when he scored them.

                The Stags still held their seven-point lead five minutes into the second half after Tyler Nelson's jumper put the score at 53-46. The Hawks scored the next eight points to take the lead at 54-53 following back-to-back three pointers from Seaborn and Je'lon Hornbeak. Kevin Degnan answered with his own three-point field goal to push Fairfield back in front at 56-54, but Seaborn's jumper on the next possession tied the game at 56-56 with 12:33 on the clock.

                Seaborn kept things going with two more three pointers on consecutive possessions to give Monmouth a 62-56 edge, a lead which the Hawks would not surrender the rest of the way. Monmouth took its biggest lead of 12 points with a minute remaining and kept that advantage at the final buzzer.

                Marcus Gilbert paced the Fairfield offense with 20 points while freshman Curtis Cobb just missed his double-double, tying his career high with 16 points and recording nine rebounds. Collin Stewart added 15 points to the Monmouth cause.