FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Peyton Smith tipped in the game-winner with 1.6 seconds left to send Fairfield University Men's Basketball to a 78-75 win over visiting Rider in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday evening at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Deon Perry led three Stags in double figures with 19 points in the victory.
 
The 1-0 start to MAAC play – also Fairfield's third consecutive win -- pushes the Stags to 5-4 on the season. Rider dips to 4-5 on the campaign.
 
"Every MAAC game is important, and you really need to protect your home court in this league," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "So I'm glad we could come out and fight and make one more play than Rider did to come away with a home win."
 
Smith's game-winner came on a tip-in with the score tied at 75-75. Prophet Johnson drove to the lane and saw his reverse layup rim out, but Smith elevated and sent it home with just 1.6 seconds left. After a Rider timeout, Smith added a free throw in the final second of the game, capping his day with 15 points in addition to a team-leading six rebounds. The tip-in was Fairfield's 18th offensive rebound of the day and the last two of the Stags' 12 second-chance points.
 
Louis Bleechmore also had a key bucket down the stretch, draining his fourth three-pointer of the day to stake Fairfield to a 75-72 lead. Bleechmore was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc on his way to 16 points.
 
Perry provided the offense in the first half, netting 16 of his 19 during the opening 20 minutes. Last year's Patriot League scoring champion at Loyola Maryland finished his highest scoring game as a Stag to date at 7-for-14 from the field with four three-pointers.
 
A total of nine Stags contributed to the scoring, Johnson adding eight points along with five assists. Kyle Jenkins chipped in six points, Jamie Bergens had five points with five helpers, Braden Sparks scored four, Birima Seck netted three and Isaac Munkadi had two on a rim-rattling dunk.
 
Led by Smith's six caroms, Fairfield held a 39-29 advantage on the glass despite 14 (including seven offensive rips) from Rider's Tariq Ingraham. Ingraham and T.J. Weeks Jr. led all scorers with 21 points apiece for the Broncs.
 
Up next, the Stags make the trek to The Mount for a MAAC road game on Sunday, Dec. 8. With the MAAC "Buffalo Trip" not a part of Fairfield's league schedule this season, this weekend's journey to Emmitsburg is the longest road trip remaining on the 2024-25 slate.
 
The Mount, which visits Marist on Friday, Dec. 6, will begin conference play with a record of 5-2.