FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Visiting Merrimack got off to a fast start and kept Fairfield University Men's Basketball at bay for the rest of the way on Saturday as the Warriors left Leo D. Mahoney Arena with a 75-54 decision. Peyton Smith was the top scorer for the Stags with 13 points and also hauled in a team-leading seven rebounds.
 
With the loss, the Stags slip to 8-12 overall and 4-5 in the MAAC. Merrimack keeps pace with Marist and Quinnipiac atop the MAAC standings with an 8-1 record as a part of an 11-9 overall mark.
 
In addition to Smith's 13 points, Louis Bleechmore had eight points sparked by a pair of three-pointers, and the graduate student forward also collected six rebounds. Jamie Bergens notched seven points and five rebounds, and Kyle Jenkins also scored seven.
 
Rounding out the Fairfield scoring, Braden Sparks had five points and four assists and Michael Rogan added five points and rebounds. Birima Seck chipped in four points, Deon Perry scored three and Makuei Riek had two.
 
Merrimack was led by star point guard Adam "Budd" Clark with 20 points and a career-high 12 assists. Matt Becht connected on six three-pointers on his way to a game-leading 22 points, and Devon Savage added 14 points with seven rebounds.
 
Clark carried the Warriors to an early lead, netting 14 points during the opening stretch that saw Merrimack build a fast 27-10 lead. The Stags responded with a 9-2 stretch that included four points for Jenkins and was punctuated by a Perry three-pointer, but that trey was Fairfield's last basket for nearly three minutes as Merrimack rebuilt a 35-19 advantage. The Warriors continued to put points on the board, with a Savage dunk capping the half and sending the Stags into the locker room facing a 47-23 deficit. Clark nearly posted a double-double in the opening frame alone with 17 points and nine assists, as he scored or assisted on 16 of the Warriors' 19 field goals in the period.
 
The Merrimack momentum carried into the second half as the lead grew as large as 29 early in the period. Fairfield made a final push with a 13-3 run to help close the gap but the margin proved insurmountable as the Warriors continued to put points on the board to finish off a 75-54 final.

"We fell behind early and didn't respond with the shots and stops that we needed to recover," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "Some of that is a credit to Merrimack, but some of it is things that are within our control, and we will address those things in practice this week."

A pair of short road trips are on the docket for Fairfield Men's Basketball next week. The Stags head to Hamden to challenge Quinnipiac on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and then make the quick trek south to visit Merrimack on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m.
 
Action returns to Leo D. Mahoney Arena on the following Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. against Marist. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.