UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Four players scored in double figures to lead Fairfield University Men's Basketball to a 67-66 win over reigning America East Champion Vermont at the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena. Peyton Smith scored 12 points for the Stags, with the trio of Makuei Riek, Jamie Bergens and Prophet Johnson tallying 10 apiece in the triumph.
 
"If you're a college basketball fan, that's a great game to watch," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "Both teams played hard, both teams made plays, and it was right down to the wire. We were fortunate enough to make a few more plays and come away with a hard-fought win. I was very pleased with our guys and their response after a tough loss to another good team yesterday."
 
Fairfield (3-4) shot .510 from the floor (26-for-51) to rack up its 67 points. Noah best added eight points to the effort, Braden Sparks scored five, Birima Seck and Michael Rogan each chipped in three, and Louis Bleechmore, Isaac Munkadi and Deon Perry had two apiece. The Fairfield bench contributed 40 points, and the Stags rang up 36 points in the paint as well as 19 off of 14 Vermont (3-4) turnovers.
 
Best also led the way on the glass with seven rebounds, including a key offensive board in the final minute with the Stags owning a two-point cushion.
 
Trailing 56-54 with 7:35 to go, Johnson made a layup to tie the game for the ninth and final time, starting the Stags on an 11-2 run to open up a 65-58 margin with 2:48 left. The stretch included four points for Johnson, a Bergens three-pointer and one bucket apiece for Best and Smith.

The Catamounts did not go quietly, cutting the deficit to 65-63 with 1:20 left, but the Stags got the stop they needed on a Bleechmore steal, and Smith hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game with 10 seconds to play. A desperation trey by former Stag TJ Long proved inconsequentially as the Stags handled the ensuing in-bounds play to run out the clock on a 67-66 win.
 
Long led all scorers with 18 points for Vermont, and TJ Hurley added 17.
 
Fairfield Men's Basketball returns home to Leo D. Mahoney Arena next Sunday, Dec. 1 for a 2 p.m. visit from FDU. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.