FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Four players scored in double figures, led by a game-best 17 from Braden Sparks, to lead Fairfield University Men's Basketball to a 70-66 victory over Niagara on Thursday evening at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Deon Perry added 15 points with four steals for the Stags.
 
With the win, Fairfield improves to 7-10 on the season with a 3-3 MAAC record. The Stags are unbeaten at 3-0 in MAAC home games this season. Niagara slips to 7-10 with a 2-4 league tally.
 
"We set a tone with defense and rebounding tonight," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "That allowed us to play from in front and dictate the pace and flow of the game. When Niagara made a run, we stayed tough, made some big shots and made our free throws to earn the win."
 
Sparks' 17 points included three of the Stags' 10 three-pointers. The junior also hit a crucial step-back jumper with 80 seconds to play after the Purple Eagles had cut the lead to one possession. Perry scored 12 of his 15 to fuel Fairfield to the 35-22 cushion at the break that the Stags never relinquished.
 
Prophet Johnson returned to the lineup after a one-game hiatus and scored all of his 12 points in the second half, capped with a layup in the final minute and the two free throws that iced the game with only five seconds to go. Johnson was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds.
 
The fourth Stag in double figures was Michael Rogan, who contributed 10 points and three boards.
 
Fairfield won the rebounding battle, 42-28, led by 10 boards from Louis Bleechmore along with Johnson's nine rips. Bleechmore grabbed five of his caroms from the offensive glass and also chipped in seven points.
 
Rounding out the Fairfield scoring, Jamie Bergens had four points all from the free throw line – including two in the final minute – while Kyle Jenkins and Isaac Munkadi each scored two points and Birima Seck added one.
 
Johnson was Fairfield's top facilitator with four assists, and the duo of Perry and Bergens dished out three apiece.
 
Niagara scored the game's first four points, which marked the only time that the Purple Eagles would hold the lead, as a 7-0 run by the Stags staked the hosts to a lead that they would maintain for the duration of the contest. Shortly after, back-to-back Rogan treys extended the lead to 15-8 and then a Perry steal and acrobatic finish for a three-point play put Fairfield up by double figures for the first time at 27-15. The Stags had one more run in them in the frame, ending the period with an 8-2 spurt to bring a 35-22 lead into the intermission.
 
Fairfield's double-digit advantage held to the five minute mark of the second half. Down the stretch, Niagara – 4-for-18 from three-point range up until that point – hit back-to-back triples to cut the lead all the way down to 62-59 with 1:58 remaining. On the ensuing Stags' possession, Fairfield wound the shot clock down to its waning seconds and Sparks delivered a step-back dagger to bring the lead back to 64-59.
 
The Purple Eagles connected once more from downtown to keep the pressure on as the clock ticked under one minute to go, but the Stags answered once again with Johnson getting to the rim and finishing to extend the lead back to two possessions at 66-62. After two Niagara free throws, Bergens stepped to the line and calmly sank both ends of a one-and-one. The Purple Eagles again put a pair on the board, but once again, the Stags delivered at the free throw line as Johnson made two with five seconds left to seal the 70-66 final.
 
Niagara was led by 12 points apiece from Justin Page, Zion Russell and Jaeden Marshall. Marshall also reeled in seven rebounds for the visitors.
 
Fairfield Men's Basketball is back in action at Leo D. Mahoney Arena this Saturday for a 2 p.m. visit from Canisius. The Golden Griffins are 1-16 overall and 1-5 in the MAAC following an 82-61 loss tonight at Iona.

Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.