FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The numbers from Chris Maidoh and Calvin Whipple may not be gaudy or eye catching when you look over tonight's box score. But the two seemed to put up numbers when the team needed it most against Saint Peter's as the Stags completed their three-game home stand with a 61-51 win over the Peacocks. Fairfield finished the three-game run with a 2-1 record and gave the team six wins in its last nine outings.

Maidoh's defensive effort was quite noticeable to anyone who watched the game as the freshman scored eight points, grabbed nine rebounds,and blocked four shots. And when he did not get his hand on the ball, Maidoh was forcing the Saint Peter's front court to change their shots often resulting in errant attempts at the rim. Whipple ended his night with nine points, all from behind the three-point line, but each shot seemed to stop Saint Peter's momentum at different part of the game.

His first three pointer tied the score at 9-9 after Saint Peter's went on a quick 5-0 spurt. His second three pointer was closed out an 8-0 Fairfield run midway through the first half that turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead with five minutes remaining.

"You work for opportunities like tonight every day in practice," Whipple said. "You get your reps in and put in the work so when you get in the game you trust your shot. I like coming off the bench because every game has a different flow to it. By coming off the bench, you can figure out the type of game it is and play accordingly to be successful."

Maidoh had the same effect on the defensive side of the court as his blocks frustrated the Peacocks forwards. And when he couldn't get to the ball, Maidoh made up for it by grabbing the rebounds, setting a career high with his nine caroms. 

"Shot blocking is just about timing and getting a feel for who you are going up against," Maidoh said. "I have gotten better at timing and knowing when to go for the block, what shots to block and what shots not to block so you don't foul. My coaches have really helped me with learning how to read the situation since I've been here."

The two teams took turns taking the lead through the first 12 minutes, combining for seven lead changes in the first half before Fairfield took the lead for good following Kevin Senghore-Peterson's basket with seven minutes remaining. His basket put Fairfield in front 17-16 and started a 12-3 run that would give the team its first double-digit lead at 29-19 with two minutes remaining in the half. Calvin Whipple and Aidas Kavaliauskas each scored from behind the three-point arc during that run. Fairfield's lead would reach it largest of the half when Wassef Methnani made a three-point field goal with 35 seconds on the clock, sending the Stags into the locker room with a 32-20 lead.

The lead remained at 12 points five minutes into the half as Vincent Eze's layup made the score 39-27. Saint Peter's started to cut into that lead methodically over the next six minutes, put together a 12-2 run during that stretch that brought the Peacocks to within a basket at 44-42 at the 9:55 mark of the second half. Doug Edert posted nine of Saint Peter's 12 points during the run including a three-point shot that pulled the visitors within a pair of points.

Landon Taliaferro, who entered the night tied for the conference lead in three pointers made per game at 2.9, tacked on three points to the deficit with his only three pointer of the night at the 9:19 mark. His long-range jumper started an 11-0 run over the next five minutes that turned the one-possession game into a 13-point deficit at 55-42. Benning made four free throws during that run while Senghore-Peterson added three more points to the run.

Methnani and Senghore-Peterson came off the bench to score seven and six points, respectively, part of Fairfield's 24 bench points. Matthew Lee and Edert paced Saint Peter's efforts with 10 points each.

"Tonight was a grind through entire game," Head Coach Jay Young said. "We never really felt comfortable even though we had a big lead a couple times. I never felt we were in control so I give Saint Peter's a lot of credit for that. Chris is getting more confident and you can see that game by game. He had nine rebounds, eight points,and four blocks so that's a great night for him. Calvin came off the bench tonight and certainly gave us a good lift. We needed every point tonight and it was good to see the ball go in for him."

Fairfield will start a quick two-game road swing that starts at Iona College on Friday night. The Stags will play the back end of the two-game run when they travel to Quinnipiac University on January 24. Both games are scheduled for 7 pm.