FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Jake Wojcik scored a team-best 18 points by shooting eight of 16 from the floor while Jesus Cruz came off the bench to score 14 points in the Fairfield University men's basketball team's 75-68 setback against Siena College on Sunday afternoon.

               The Stags put together a solid effort today's game, a contest with featured 13 lead changes and four tied scores. Most of those changes came in the opening six minutes of play as the two teams traded baskets throughout that stretch which resulted in nine of those changes. Fairfield eventually secured a small foothold on the lead when Jalen Leach scored on back-to-back possession with a three-point field goal and jumper that put the Stags in the lead 15-11 with 13:15 on the clock.

               The home team did not relinquish its four-point lead for several minutes, still holding the margin at 20-16 before Siena used its own five-point run to take a one point lead off Jordan King's three pointer, the first of three long-range baskets for the guard. The Saints would stay in front for the remainder of the half before taking a three-point lead into halftime, 34-31.

               The deficit grew to as many as seven points I the opening two minutes of the second half after Aidan Carpenter's three pointer raised the score to 40-33. Caleb Green and Carpenter traded three pointers for the next points scored in the game before the Stags put together a run of seven straight points that would tie the game at 43-43 after Jesus Cruz's shot at the 15:24 mark.

               The Saints scored the four points on consecutive baskets by Jackson Stormo and Manny Camper before Wojcik tossed in a short jumper to pull with a possession at 47-45. Siena secured its biggest lead of the game when it tallied six consecutive points to push the advantage to eight points with 12 minutes on the clock.

               Fairfield whittled points off the lead and trailed by just four points in the closing minutes before free throw shooting provided Siena with a chance to tack on points to the winning margin. The Stags had another balanced attack with seven student-athletes scoring. In addition to Wojcik and Cruz, Zach Crisler added nine points and Supreme Cook came off the bench to chip in with eight points.
               Four Siena student-athletes reached double figures led by Carpenter's 19 points while Camper provided a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

               "We did enough to win the game offensively but our defense was not good enough today or in the series," Fairfield Head Coach Jay Young said.  "Yesterday we could not guard the front court but did a much better job today up front. But after guarding the guards well yesterday, we didn't do the same in this game. Give Siena credit for a great effort and showed how good they really are this weekend."

               A road series with Marist College is next up on the Fairfield University schedule before the Stags return home for two games with Canisius College on January 22 and 23.