SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Braden Sparks tallied his second 20-point game of the season to pace Fairfield University Men's Basketball in an 82-59 loss at Seton Hall on Monday in South Orange. Nasir Rodriguez added a career-best 12 points for the Stags, and Brandon Benjamin scored 11 to go along with nine rebounds.
 
Fairfield wraps up its three-game, season-opening road swing at 1-2. The Stags picked up a 74-53 win over NJIT this past weekend to go along with losses at Penn State and Seton Hall. The Pirates remained unbeaten at 3-0.
 
Sparks knocked down three three-pointers en route to his 20 points. The senior scored Fairfield's first 10 points and 12 of the team's first 17 to help keep pace with the Pirates early. Rodriguez also canned three three-pointers for the Stags to fuel his dozen points.
 
Benjamin, who was named MAAC Rookie of the Week earlier on Monday, was just shy of a double-double – his second straight game with nine rebounds after grabbing 10 last week against the Nittany Lions.
 
Declan Wucherpfennig added seven points and seven rebounds as the Stags were clipped, 43-38, on the boards. Deuce Turner and Tony Williams pitched in three points apiece, Eric Mejia had two, and Isaac Munkadi split a pair of free throws to cap the scoring. Munkadi and Mejia also tore down four rebounds apiece.
 
The physical contest featured 40 fouls and 51 total free throws. The Stags shot 18-for-23 from the stripe, while Seton Hall went 23-for-28 on charity tosses. The hosts gained a 17-7 advantage in turnovers and 40-12 margin on points in the paint.
 
A.J. Staton-McCray led the Pirates with 13 points. Seton Hall also got 10 points apiece from Elijah Fisher, Mike Williams III, and Najai Hines. Hines also corralled a game-best 10 rebounds.

"We needed to be better against their pressure. Their athleticism was disruptive on our offensive end and the pressure sped us up," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "We will regroup in the practice gym and get ready for a home game on Friday."
 
Fairfield University Men's Basketball opens up the home schedule this weekend with the inaugural Mahoney Classic presented by NIVEA MEN. The Stags will host Stonehill on Friday, Nov. 14 and Loyola Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 16. Stonehill and Loyola will go head-to-head at Mahoney Arena on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tickets for all three games are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.