(recap updated to reflect a scoring change on 11/14/2023)

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Basketball earned its first win of the 2023-24 season on Monday night with a 92-45 victory over visiting Mount Saint Mary College. Four Stags scored in double figures in the win at Leo D. Mahoney Arena, which was the first as Fairfield head coach for Chris Casey.
 
Louis Bleechmore led all scorers with 19 points, including two of the Stags' 15 three-pointers. James Johns Jr. made his season debut and posted his first career double-double, tallying a pair of personal bests with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Brycen Goodine filled out the statsheet with 17 points, seven rebounds and assists. Peyton Smith added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jasper Floyd hauled in seven rebounds as the Stags gained a 51-24 advantage on the glass.
 
Floyd also distributed a game-high eight assists as the Stags assisted on 25 of their 35 made field goals. Fairfield shot 35-of-68 (51.5%) from the floor, 15-of-39 (38.5%) from three-point range and 7-for-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line.
 
In addition to Johns Jr. returning to the rotation, Caleb Fields and Jalen Leach both saw their first action of the season, finishing with six and four points, respectively. A total of 10 Stags contributed to tonight's 92 points, with Michael Rogan tallying nine, Floyd scoring four, Matt Curtis adding four via a four-point play, and Jack Brown scoring a pair.
 
Brown also had three blocked shots. Also on the defensive end, Goodine and Floyd came away with three steals apiece as part of Fairfield's 12 forced Mount Saint Mary turnovers.
 
"It's great to get our first win as a team and to add some of our returning guys back into the rotation," said Casey. "With games on back-to-back days coming up this weekend, the added depth will be beneficial as we prepare for two quality opponents."
 
The Knights had 11 players chip in to the scoring effort, led by eight from Ben Toussaint.
 
Fairfield led wire-to-wire in tonight's game, with Bleechmore canning a three-pointer on the opening possession to start the scoring. The key run of the half began just past the midway point, with Goodine scoring six as a part of a quick 8-0 run to grow the lead from 19-12 to 27-12 in only 2:05 of gametime. Another fast 8-0 stretch expanded the lead to 20 for the first time, and the Stags soon headed into the intermission with a 37-18 advantage.

In just over three minutes coming out of the break, the Stags reeled off 11 points – highlighted by a windmill dunk from Bleechmore – to take a 48-24 lead and induce a Mount Saint Mary timeout. The lead steadily grew as large as 47 points, which marked the final margin as Fairfield finished off a 92-45 victory before a crowd of 2,107 fans at Mahoney Arena.
 
On deck for the Stags is a trip to Philadelphia for the Market Street Challenge on Nov. 17-18. Fairfield will meet host Drexel on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by a first-time clash with Queens (N.C.) on Saturday at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on FloHoops.

Action returns to Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. against visiting New Hampshire. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.