STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Fairfield University Men's Basketball fell behind early to host Wagner on Friday evening and, despite cutting a 17-point deficit down to seven, the Stags drew no closer in an eventual 68-52 defeat. Supreme Cook was just one rebound shy of a double-double for the Stags with 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
"We played a very tough Wagner team tonight, and they set the tone defensively and took us out of any offensive rhythm," said Head Coach Jay Young. "We are searching for an identity right now; we don't have one on either side of the ball."
 
Fairfield (0-4) was led offensively by Caleb Fields with a team-best 16 points. In addition to Cook's 14 tallies, Allan Jeanne-Rose and TJ Long each added six with Brycen Goodine contributing five. To round out the scoring, Chris Maidoh and Zach Crisler scored two points apiece and Makai Willis netted one.
 
As a unit, the Stags shot 15-49 (30.6%) from the field, 6-25 (24%) from three-point range and 16-22 (72.7%) from the free throw line. Wagner was 24-47 (51.1%) from the floor, 8-17 (47.1%) from downtown and 12-16 (75%) at the charity stripe.
 
Cook's nine rebounds buoyed the Stags on the glass, with Long hauling in four caroms. The Stags, however, were clipped by a 35-28 margin on the boards as Wagner's Brandon Brown collected 12 rips along with 14 points.
 
The Stags capitalized on the turnover battle, turning 15 Wagner miscues into 19 points while committing only 10 turnovers of their own.
 
The Seahawks' DeLonnie Hunt led all scorers with 17 points.
 
Fairfield returns to action next weekend with three games in three days at the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic in Savannah, Ga. The lineup pits the Stags against Towson, Mercer and Evansville before returning to the Northeast to kickoff the MAAC slate on Dec. 1 at Manhattan.