FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Taj Benning scored a career-best 23 points in today's win for the Fairfield University men's basketball team as the Stags earned a split in the two-game series with a 77-70 win over Quinnipiac University at Alumni Hall. While the point total is impressive, what weighs more is when he scored those points.

              Benning scored 11 of his 23 points in the final nine minutes of play, seven of which added to Fairfield's lead when Quinnipiac cut the lead to three points or less on three separate occasions. With his three assists and seven rebounds, Head Coach Jay Young pointed to the senior's contribution after the game.

              "Taj played probably his most complete game since I've been here," Coach Young said. "Today was a result of what he does in practice every day and his overall approach to the game itself. He has been our most consistent player all year."

              The team's approach was also much better this afternoon, something that was not lost on Young.

              "We locked in defensively in the first half which allowed us to open up a lead," Young said. "We did a much better job covering their players and really paid attention to details today."

              Quinnipiac led just four times in this game, all coming in the first seven minutes of play. The last lead followed a pair of free throws by Jacob Rigoni, who finished the game with 17 points. Allen Jeanne-Rose put Fairfield back on top with two charity tosses and Benning followed with a basket on the next possession to put the Stags in front for good.

              Fairfield continued to build on that three-point lead over the final 12 minutes of the half, taking its biggest lead at 39-25 with 20 seconds remaining courtesy of a Benning jump shot. The Stags' biggest lead came on the first possession of the second half when Jake Wojcik's jumper pushed the lead to 16 points.

              The Bobcats answered with a 10-2 spurt to cut the lead in half which just two minutes later as Tymu Chenery scored half of those points with a three pointer and a jumper. Chenery would finish the game with 21 points, buoyed by six three point field goals. The Bobcats continued to whittle away at the Fairfield advantage until they brought it down to one point, 51-50, with 10 minutes on the clock

              Benning helped the Stags recenter with a pair of free throws to bring the score to 53-50 and Zach Crisler followed with a layup one possession later. Quinnipiac scored the next three points to bring the deficit back to two points before Benning netted a three-point field goal at the 7:23 mark to regain the five-point edge.

              The Bobcats were able to cut a couple points off that deficit and came as close as three points on a couple of occasions including 64-61 with three minutes left in game. Benning stepped up once again and found the bottom of the net with a driving layup that would lead to a three-point play as he was fouled during the play.

              Quinnipiac was unable to come any closer than four points the rest of the way as the Stags kept their hopes at bay by netting eight of 10 free throws in the final minute.

              The Stags improved to 4-2 in second games of the two-game series format adopted by the MAAC this year. Young likes the way his team has been able to bounce back but still emphasizes the need to be consistent across both games of the two-game series.

              "I think winning four times in the second game means we know how to respond and come back from adversity," Young said. "But we really need to stop the rollercoaster and digging ourselves in holes on the first night of these series. We need to start playing two nights of basketball."

              In addition to Benning, three other Fairfield student-athletes reached double figures, including 15 points from Wojcik and 10 points from Jesus Cruz. Chris Maidoh returned to the starting lineup and tallied 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes of work.

              "We received great production out of the five spot tonight with Chris and Supreme (Cook)," Young said. "Chris was very active and made his free throws tonight which made him effective. Supreme made three of his four field goals and scored six points giving us seven makes in eight attempts from the five position."

              Fairfield will play six of its final eight dates on the road beginning with this weekend's set with Saint Peter's University.