DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Matt Curtis led five Stags in double figures with 19 points as Fairfield University Men's Basketball won its opening round game of the Ro College Basketball Invitational, 82-75, over Little Rock on Sunday afternoon in Daytona Beach. Caleb Fields added 15 points and six assists for the Stags, who advance to play Chicago State in Monday's quarterfinal round.
 
With the win, Fairfield improves to 23-12. The Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season Champion Trojans end their 2023-24 season at 21-13.
 
"This group is tough. They believe 100% in each other,said Head Coach Chris Casey. "We're down two All-MAAC guards, but it's next man up. That's why you have a team, somebody steps up. And Matt Curtis was terrific today."
 
Curtis drained a personal-best five three-pointers on his way to 19 points. The Stags made 13 three-pointers in total, with Fields and Louis Bleechmore adding three apiece, while Jasper Floyd and Alexis Yetna each made one.
 
Floyd scored 14 points in his home state of Florida to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and six steals. He extended his program record to 85 swipes this season.
 
Yetna and Bleechmore also reached double figures with 13 points apiece. Yetna corralled eight rebounds, sharing the game-high with Floyd as the Stags were edged on the glass, 34-31.
 
Birima Seck and Peyton Smith rounded out the scoring with four points apiece.
 
Led by Floyd, the Stags' 10 steals led to 21 fast-break points that were integral in the rally from a 41-36 halftime deficit to an 82-75 triumph.
 
Little Rock's Jordan Jefferson led all players with 20 points, while the All-OVC First Team duo of Jamir Chaplin and KK Robinson each netted 17.
 
Fairfield's next opponent is another first-time foe with a Monday clash with Chicago State. The Cougars, who are 13-18 as a Division I independent, advanced on Saturday with an upset win over UC San Diego.