FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It took more than 37 minutes for Fairfield University Men's Basketball to take a lead in Friday evening's clash with New Hampshire at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Stags finally erased that deficit with 2:23 to play. But unfortunately, the advantage would flip three more times over the final 153 seconds, with the visiting Wildcats striking last to head back to Durham with an 83-80 decision. Jalen Leach and Jasper Floyd netted 25 and 23 points, respectively, for the Stags as each set a new career high.
 
"First of all, I think if you're a college basketball fan, you loved that game today. But unfortunately, we came up on the short end of it," said Interim Head Coach Chris Casey. "But I love our resiliency; I love our fight. And I truly believe that when we get our whole group together and healthy, that we can be a very good basketball team."
 
Leach's 25 points came on 10-for-16 shooting from the field, including a three-pointer, and a 4-for-5 performance at the free throw line. In addition to Floyd's 23 points, the first-year Stag also had six steals – the most by a Fairfield player since Colin Nickerson's six at Milwaukee on Feb. 18, 2012.
 
Joining Leach and Floyd with a career high was Jack Brown, who came off the bench to net seven points and also pull down a career-best six rebounds.
 
James Johns Jr. scored 11 points on a 5-of-9 day from the floor, Peyton Smith added eight points and Louis Bleechmore scored six. Bleechmore also hauled in a team-best seven rebounds, as the Stags were edged on the glass, 37-34.
 
As a unit, Fairfield shot 32-for-70 (45.7%) from the field, 4-for-20 (20%) from three-point range and 12-for-15 (80%) from the free throw line.
 
The Stags also turned defense in the offense with 15 forced turnovers – including 13 steals – that led to 27 points. Fairfield only committed six giveaways leading to seven UNH tallies.
 
The Wildcats were led by 20 points from Naim Miller, who canned five of the visitors' 13 three-pointers. Clarence Daniels added 19 points and 13 rebounds, with Jaxson Baker racking up 16 points, 13 boards and four blocked shots.
 
New Hampshire built its lead early, jumping out to a 15-6 advantage that they would maintain for most of the contest. The margin grew as large as 11 points in the opening period at 37-26, but the Stags ended the half with nine straight points – five from Floyd and four by Leach – to head to the locker room trailing by just a bucket at 37-35.
 
A Johns layup on the opening possession of the second half completed Fairfield's first comeback on the day, knotting the game at 37-37, but the Wildcats scored the next eight to regain a slight cushion and soon led by double figures once again at 55-44 with 14:32 to go. The margin reached its largest point at 61-47 with 12:37 left before the Stags began another rally.
 
Brown started the scoring with a three-point play, followed by another old-fashioned triple for Leach. Johns also added a bucket during the run, as did Floyd, but a pair of rally-killing three-pointers from Trey Woodyard and then by Baker kept the UNH lead at 72-64 as the clock ticked under eight minutes to play. Three minute later, the edge was 77-72 before Leach sank a free throw and Floyd drained a deep three-pointer, bringing the Stags within one at 77-76. After empty possessions each way, Floyd made two at the line and Fairfield led for the first time, 78-77, with 2:23 left.
 
New Hampshire answered on the ensuing possession on a bucket from Ahmad Robinson, but the Stags once again took the lead when Louis Bleechmore grabbed an offensive board and put it home to make it an 80-79 game with 1:20 to play. The Stags got the defensive stop they needed, but then had a scoreless trip of the own to keep the lead at just one point. This time, UNH converted with Robinson once again driving the lane and scoring with the shot clock turned off. Fairfield came up empty on its next possession, and Robinson made two free throws in the waning seconds to round out the final at 83-80.
 
The opening weekend of conference play is on deck for Fairfield, beginning with a visit from defending MAAC Champion Iona on Friday, Dec. 1. Tip-off from Leo D. Mahoney Arena is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.
 
The Stags will travel to Rider on Sunday, Dec. 3 to cap the opening weekend of MAAC action.