FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In a game that included some of the top freshmen in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the class of 2019 did not disappoint on either side of the floor. In the end, Saint Peter's outlasted the Fairfield University men's basketball team by a 77-71 score at Alumni Hall.

Fairfield's freshmen foursome combined for 42 of the team's 71 points and three of those rookies reached double digits. Jonathan Kasibabu posted a double-double with a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Stags. Saint Peter's freshman forward Antwon Portley tallied a game-high 23 points including 19 in the first half.

Portley helped jump start the Peacock offense early in the game by scoring 13 of the team's first 16 points, helping the visitors take an early 16-13 lead at the 12:55 mark. Fairfield posted nine of its 11 points from behind the arc as Tyler Nelson, Jerome Segura, and Kasibabu each netted a long jumper during the opening sequence.

The Peacocks would build their slim lead into a double-digit advantage at 23-13 following Quadir Welton's jumper with 9:35 on the clock. Fairfield would respond with a 12-2 run over the next three minutes to tie the game at 25-25, with Kasibabu sparking the stretch with seven points. Portley pushed Saint Peter's back in front with a jumper, but Fairfield scored the next six points to grab a 31-27 edge after Curtis Cobb's layup with 2:53 remaining.

The Stags would settle for a three-point edge at the half as Kasibabu and Marcus Gilbert closed the half with four free throws over the final 48 seconds to make it a 36-33 Fairfield lead.

Cobb started the second half with another layup to make it a five-point lead for the home team. Saint Peter's came back with nine straight points tagged by five from Trevis Wyche to give Saint Peter's a 42-38 lead at the 16:49 mark. Fairfield would manage to tie the game at 43 and at 45 before the Peacocks netted 12 of the next 17 points to take control at 57-50 with 7:11 left in the game.

The Stags cut the lead to four points late in the game, 63-59, but Saint Peter's was able to regain a double-digit lead in the final minute before settling for the 77-71 victory.

Jerry Johnson Jr. and Marcus Gilbert each scored 13 points while Cobb added 11 points for Fairfield. Wyche closed out the game with 20 points while Welton registered 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Stags secured 15 offensive rebounds which it turned into 19 second-chance points, and held an 11-9 lead in assists.

Fairfield returns to the court on Friday night when it heads to Marist College for a 7 pm tip off. The Stags' next home is Sunday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. as the night-cap of a doubleheader with the Fairfield women's basketball team at Webster Bank Arena. Both ends of the Sunday twin bill will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and SNY.