BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – It always seems that Head Coach Sydney Johnson can find someone who can come off the bench and make a contribution. Today, senior Matija Milin answered the call and helped Fairfield make a run late in the second half before falling to Monmouth University by a 61-49 score at Webster Bank Arena.

                In what may have been his best all-around effort since the LIU Brooklyn game when he scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Milin made plays on both sides of the court during his 18 minutes in the second half. He finished the game with six points, seven rebounds, and a career-high tying four assists.

                "I was glad to see Matija play well today because he is such a team guy," Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. "He gave us a defensive charge and helped us play the right way offensively today. It's a credit to him because he doesn't always know when his number is going to be called. He was ready when I called it today."

                The bench has been ready when called upon all season long and that was even more apparent today when Felix Lemetti received the call for the starting lineup when Neftali Alvarez came down with flu-like symptoms. Lemetti, who has not played since netting six points at Manhattan, responded to his opportunity by scoring eight points which included two three-point field goals.

                Taj Benning, who rejoined the starting lineup three games ago after starting the season's first 10 games, has certainly relished being among the first five. The guard is averaging 8.3 points per game over the last three dates including a team-best 12 points today which ties his career high.

                "Taj started at the beginning of the year before coming off the bench of late," Johnson said. "So to see him play so passionately today and really over the last few games shows the type of versatility he has and what type of team player he really is."

                Benning showed that emotion when he picked up a steal off Monmouth's first possession of the game and went the distance to put his team in front 2-0 just 30 seconds into the game. After Jesus Cruz doubled the lead with a layup, Lemetti made the first of his three pointers off a direct feed from Benning that pushed the lead to 7-0 just 2-plus minutes into the game.

                Monmouth eventually gained its composure and started to figure out the offensive side of the court. The Hawks scored the next five points to bring them back within a possession at 7-5. Aidas Kavaliauskas stopped the run with a fast-break layup at the 14:18 mark.

The visitors scored the next four points to tie the score for the first time at 9-9 before Wassef Methnani hit a rainbow three-point shot that regained the Fairfield lead at 12-9. Monmouth took its first lead with back-to-back three pointers from Louie Pillari and Ray Salnave that made the score 15-12 with 11:28 remaining in the first half.

Methnani was fouled two possessions later and found the bottom of the net with both free throws which brought the score to 15-14. The Hawks took control over the next four minutes by using an 11-2 run that enabled them to take their first double-digit lead of the game at 26-16 with six minutes on the clock. The lead would reach 13 points by the end of the half which was the same amount of points that Monmouth would score off 11 first-half turnovers.

"Monmouth is really playing good basketball and they made us work for everything we did, really all game long," Coach Johnson said. "They took advantage toward the end of the first half when we had some turnovers. You really have to credit the defensive effort they had during that part of the game."

                When the second half started, it was time for Milin to make his move when he entered for Jonathan Kasibabu at the 18-minute mark. On the team's second possession after his entry, Milin set up Cruz for a layup. He scored his first points off a pair of free throws that kept the lead at 13 points. Monmouth would lead by as many as 16 points in the second half, reaching that mark on three separate occasions.

                Fairfield fought down the stretch and nearly cut that deficit in half when Kasibabu's layup whittled the lead down to nine points at 58-49 with 2:12 remaining. However, Monmouth kept the Stags scoreless for the final minutes and ended the game with its 12-point victory.

                Cruz added nine points to the Fairfield cause while Milin, Kasibabu and Benning each posted a team-high seven rebounds. Salnave led all Monmouth scorers with 17 points while Mustapha Traore finished the day with 16 points.

                The Stags will return to the hardwood next weekend when they travel to upstate New York for their annual trek to the Buffalo area. Fairfield opens the weekend with Canisius on Friday night before ending the run with an afternoon match up with Niagara on Sunday.