LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Taj Benning matched his career high with 24 points and Jake Wojcik netted his third 20-point game of the season to power Fairfield University Men's Basketball to a 76-65 victory at MAAC foe Rider on Friday evening. Wojcik also paced the effort on the boards with a team-best eight caroms.
 
With their second straight road win, the Stags even their record to 10-10 overall and move to 4-5 in the MAAC. The Broncs drop to 6-13 on the season and 2-7 in conference play.

"It was a good win tonight. Obviously Taj and Woj led the way as far as scoring, but a good box score overall with everybody contributing," said Head Coach Jay Young. "I was happy with the way we shared the ball with 17 assists and only nine turnovers, and I thought we defend well for most of the game as well."
 
Benning and Wojcik's 44 combined points included nine of the Stags' 11 three-pointers. Benning knocked down a career-best six triples on nine attempts, while Wojcik canned three for his fifth straight game with at least three conversions from downtown. The duo is the first pair of Fairfield teammates to net 20 points in the same game since Tyler Nelson dropped 23 and Jonathan Kasibabu scored 20 in a 69-66 win over Monmouth on Feb. 24, 2018.
 
Supreme Cook also reached double figures in Friday's game with 11 points. He also pulled down seven rebounds as the Stags were clipped on the glass, 33-36.
 
Sunday's hero in the three-point win at Marist, Jesus Cruz scored all eight of his points in the first half as the Stags built a 34-24 lead over the opening 20 minutes.

The Broncs came out firing out the intermission, cutting the lead to 37-33 before a Wojcik trey and a TJ Long layup squashed the threat. Minutes later, Rider would move to within three points at 42-39 before Benning canned a trey to double the lead, then knocked down two more in rapid succession to reestablish a 53-41 advantage with 9:06 to go.

"It was great to see us make some big shots when we needed them. It wasn't an end-of-game scenario, but those were key moments that could have swung the momentum," noted Young. "When our backcourt is making plays, we're a very solid team, and we saw some great examples of that tonight."
 
The lead grew as large as 17 points, and stayed in double digits the rest of the way as Fairfield closed out the 76-65 triumph.
 
Rounding out Fairfield's offensive effort, Chris Maidoh scored six points, Long netted four, Zach Crisler scored two and Allan Jeanne-Rose split a pair of free throws as all eight Stags to check into the game contributed to the final tally.
 
Rider was led by 21 points from Allen Powell and 17 for Dimencio Vaughn.
 
Up next, Fairfield wraps up its three-game road trip next Friday, Feb. 4 with a return visit to Monmouth. The Hawks are 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the MAAC following a 72-67 win over Canisius this evening. Monmouth will host Niagara on Sunday before hosting the Stags next Friday for their fourth consecutive home game.
 
Monmouth won the first meeting of the season, 61-58, at Webster Bank Arena on Jan. 20.
 
The Stags will return to Webster Bank Arena for a six-game homestand beginning on Sunday, Feb. 6 against Siena.