JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Fairfield University Men's Basketball ceded just 21 second-half points, turning seven-point deficit at the intermission into a 56-52 victory on Sunday afternoon at Saint Peter's. Jake Wojcik scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, including Fairfield's final six tallies to seal the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference road triumph.
 
With the win, Fairfield improves to 7-10 overall and 3-4 in the MAAC. The Stags complete the season sweep of Saint Peter's, who were also the opponent for Fairfield's debut victory at Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Dec. 3, for the first time since 2012-13. Fairfield also sweeps the home-and-home from the reigning MAAC Champion for the time since taking two from defending champ Saint Peter's in 2011-12.
 
The victory is also the first true road win for the Stags this season; Fairfield picked up four victories during its recent seven-game homestand at Mahoney Arena as well as a pair of neutral court wins in Savannah, Ga. on Thanksgiving Weekend.
 
"We found a way to win, and that's the most important thing," said Head Coach Jay Young. "I'm proud of the way that we fought back. Obviously we struggled with full court pressure again down one of our best ball-handlers in Caleb [Fields], and we need to clean up the turnovers as well as allowing so many offensive rebounds. Credit to Saint Peter's for that, of course, but also credit to our guys for battling through it and getting back on the bus with the win."
 
Along with Wojcik's 17 points, Supreme Cook posted 12 points and eight rebounds and Allan Jeanne-Rose filled out every column of the statsheet with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and four of the Stags' season-high nine blocked shots. TJ Long added nine points, Chris Maidoh scored six and Jalen Leach rounded out the scoring with two.
 
Jeanne-Rose, Wojcik and Leach shared the team-high with three assists apiece.
 
Cook's eight rebounds helped buoy the Stags on the boards as Saint Peter's hauled in 29 offensive boards and gained an overall 42-29 advantage on the glass. The Peacocks managed just 10 second chance points from their 29 offensive rips.
 
The Stags' last win when faced with a rebounding deficit of 13 or more came on Feb. 20, 2016 when Fairfield won at Niagara, 71-59, despite losing the battle under the boards by a 41-27 count.
 
As a result of the Peacocks' offensive rebounding prowess, SPU attempted 76 field goals to the Stags' 37. However, Fairfield made the most of its opportunities, shooting a season-best 51.4% (19-37) from the field with four three-pointers and also shot 82.4% (14-17) from the free throw line.
 
Defensively, the Stags limited Saint Peter's to 27.6% shooting (21-76) from the floor, 12.5% (3-24) from distance an 77.8% (7-9) from the stripe. Saint Peter's was led by 13 points from Isiah Dasher and 12 by Jayden Saddler.
 
The Stags went down low for their points early, with 22 of their 24 first-half points coming either in the paint or at the free throw line. Cook accounted for 10 of those tallies to keep Fairfield in striking distance. Saint Peter's scoring was generated by its defense, turning nine Stags' turnovers into 10 points, including a steal and driving layup to beat the horn and send the host Peacocks into the break with a 31-24 advantage.
 
The lead was short-lived out of the locker room as Wojcik three-pointer, a Leach layup on the break and a lob from Leach to Cook comprised a 7-0 run as the Stags pulled even, 31-31, just 2:18 into the period. Fairfield went on to build a nine-point lead at 47-38 before the Peacocks made their only run of the frame, cutting the margin to 52-50 with 2:05 left. After two empty trips each way, Wojcik sank a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 54-50 with 16 seconds to go. Fairfield came away with another stop, and Wojcik again hit a pair from the line, then Saddler canned a jumper at the horn to fill out the final tally at 56-52 in favor of the visiting Stags.
 
On the day, the Fairfield defense set season bests against a Division I opponent for fewest points allowed in a game and a half as well as the lowest field goal percentage allowed.
 
Up next, the Stags return home on Friday, Jan. 20, welcoming Canisius to Mahoney Arena for a 7 p.m. tip. The Griffs, who will handed Siena its first MAAC loss on Sunday, are currently 5-12 overall and 3-5 in the MAAC.
 
Tickets for Friday's game and all six remaining home games are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.