HAMDEN, Conn. – Deon Perry scored 23 points, including an electric first half showing, to lead Fairfield University Men's Basketball on Friday night at Quinnipiac. But after seven ties and five lead changes, the host Bobcats made the game's final run to pull away with an 81-69 decision. Jamie Bergens added 15 point and five assists for the Stags.
 
With the loss, the Stags slip to 8-13 on the season and 4-6 in the MAAC. Quinnipiac maintains its place atop the league standings at 9-1 in the conference as a part of a 13-8 overall mark.
 
"We fought incredibly hard tonight, and this team will never make me question that," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "But we left too many points at the rim and the free throw line. We need to clean up our execution and make more of the types of plays that decide these hard-fought conference games."
 
Perry netted 18 of his 23 points in the first half, shooting 5-for-8 from three-point range in the stanza. He knocked down six triples in total to round out his highest scoring output of the season. Bergens hit a pair of treys on his way to 15 points, and Kyle Jenkins stuffed the statsheet with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
 
Michael Rogan was just shy of joining that trio in double figures, recording nine points along with five rebounds. Rounding out the scoring, Peyton Smith scored five points, Braden Sparks netted three and Prophet Johnson scored two.
 
Quinnipiac was led by double-doubles from the All-MAAC duo of Amarri Monroe (27 pts., 10 rebs.) and Paul Otieno (15 pts., 13 rebs.).
 
Bergens notched the first five points for the Stags, staking Fairfield to a quick 5-2 lead. But the Bobcats responded with their first run of the evening as Monroe accounted for eight points during a fast 10-0 stretch to put the hosts in front, 12-5, and induce a Fairfield timeout. The Stags responded with an 8-0 run capped by a Perry triple to tie the game at 16. That trey got Perry going as the Fairfield guard scored 15 of Fairfield's last 21 in the frame, ending the period with 18 points – including five three-pointers – as the Stags headed to the intermission facing a two-point deficit, down 36-34.
 
The clubs traded scores for much of the second half, culmintating with a Jenkins triple cutting the Fairfield deficit to 61-59 with 7:11 remaining. But the last run of the evening came from Quinnipiac as the hosts reeled off a 16-3 stretch over the ensuing six minutes and put away the eventual 81-69 final.
 
Up next, the Stags make another short road trip with a Sunday, Feb. 2 visit to Iona. Opening tip from Hynes Athletic Center is set for 1 p.m.
 
Action returns to Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Thursday, Feb. 6, when the Stags host Marist at 7 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.