FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Basketball made its first-ever trip to the Pitt Center on Saturday night to renew the crosstown rivalry with Sacred Heart. Led by 15 points from Taj Benning, the Stags dropped the host Pioneers by a score of 71-61. Supreme Cook added a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
"It was a great college basketball game in November. The fans were excited, our guys were excited, and it was a really good atmosphere overall. I think this is what these game should be about," said Head Coach Jay Young.

With the win, the Stags improve to 2-2 on the young season while the Pioneers drop to 2-3. Fairfield moved to 8-0 all-time against Sacred Heart in first game held on either team's campus -- the previous seven were all played at Webster Bank Arena or Mohegan Sun Arena. Fairfield is tentatively scheduled to host the Pioneers next season at the new on-campus Arena and Convocation Center.
 
Benning's 15 points this evening included two three-pointers for the graduate student captain, helping spark the Stags to 11 treys for the contest. He filled out his stat line with four rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.
 
Jake Wojcik, Zach Crisler and TJ Long also each canned a pair from distance. Long's triples came in quick succession in the second half as the freshman netted all eight of his points after the intermission.
 
Wojcik finished his evening with 14 points, capped by a 4-for-4 performance at the free throw line to help ice the victory. Cruz was the third Stag in double figures with 11 tallies to go along with seven rebounds and two blocked shot.
 
Led by Cook's dozen caroms along with Cruz's seven, the Stags held a 45-33 advantage on the boards. That margin included 15 offensive rips – four for Chris Maidoh and three for Wojcik – that led to 12 second-chance points. Fairfield's offensive rebounding also helped key the Stags to 26 points in the paint.
 
Caleb Green dished out a team-best five of Fairfield's 15 assists as the Stags posted a nearly 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Despite committing only a season-low eight turnovers, Fairfield was actually edged in that category, as Sacred Heart suffered just six giveaways.

The scoring began with a pair of free throws for SHU's Aaron Clarke – two of his game-best 21 points – but the Pioneers would go without a field goal for the first 3:18 of the game as the Stags raced in front, 10-2. Benning had five points during the stretch, including the three-pointer that capped the run. Fairfield stayed in front for the duration of the opening period, though the lead would shrink to just one point, 25-24, with 5:21 until the break.
 
Benning again keyed a Fairfield spurt, knocking down a jumper and a pair of free throws to jumpstart the offense. Wojcik would drain a late three-pointer and then find Cook for a bucket off an offensive board as the Stags rebuilt a 34-28 lead heading into the locker room.
 
The Pioneers came out firing with the first eight points of the second half, taking their first lead since 2-0. The Stags response this time was a Cruz layup and Long's back-to-back treys. Cruz followed with a triple of own to rebuild a 45-38 lead, and Fairfield remained at arm's length for the ensuing stretch out to a 55-50 edge with 6:49 to play.
 
At that point, Benning, Wojcik and Green each drained a three-pointer in a span of just over three minutes as the margin ballooned to the largest of the day, 64-52, with 3:40 to go. A mini 5-0 run kept the Pioneers within striking distance at 67-61 in the final minute, but Wojcik and Cruz each sank two free throws in the closing 60 seconds of action to seal the 71-61 win.
 
Up next, the Stags return to Webster Bank Arena for a pair of non-conference contests around the Thanksgiving holiday. Fairfield hosts Stony Brook on Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Loyola Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 28. Both games are slated for 2 p.m. with the Sunday game kicking off a doubleheader that also features Fairfield Women's Basketball hosting in-state foe Yale.
 
Tickets for every remaining home game on the slate are on sale now via Ticketmaster and the Webster Bank Arena box office.