FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Deuce Turner scored 14 of his game-high 22 points after halftime to lead Fairfield University Men's Basketball to a 73-71 overtime win against visiting Stonehill on Friday at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. The contest was the Stags' home opener and the first game of the inaugural Mahoney Classic presented by NIVEA MEN.
With the win, Fairfield evens its record at 2-2 while Stonehill slips to 1-3.
"Credit to Stonehill, they played hard and made plays, and we were fortunate to make one more play than they did," said Head Coach
Chris Casey. "And credit to us, because we really fought them for it. We handled adversity when it went to overtime. And right now, that's the emphasis on what we do – play hard, defend, rebound, and offense will come from that."
Included in Turner's 22 points were five in the overtime period, highlighted by a three-pointer that tied the game at 69-69. The Stags also benefited from three
Eric Mejia free throws in the extra session, as well as the Turner layup that broke the eighth and final tie, putting Fairfield on top, 73-71, with what proved to be the final tally of the evening.
Turner's 22 points were a season-best for the graduate student, who shot 7-for-14 from the field with four three-pointers. Turner had previously totaled only eight points in the first three games of his first season as a Stag.
"The coaching staff believes in me, and the biggest thing I can do is believe in myself," said Turner. "I've had great games and I've had down games, and that doesn't alter my approach to the game. I still show up ready to work, and I don't lose confidence."
Braden Sparks joined Turner in double figures with 16 points to go along with four rebounds and a team-high three assists. The third Stag in double figures was
Declan Wucherpfennig, who netted 11 and was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds.
Wucherpfennig and classmate
Brandon Benjamin shared the team high on the boards with the nine apiece as the Stags were clipped, 44-43, by Stonehill on the glass. However, Fairfield corralled eight offensive rips that led to nine second-chance points as compared to just five offensive rebounds for the visitors.
Supplementing the Fairfield scoring, the trio of Mejia,
Isaac Munkadi, and
Halon Rawlins each netted five points. Benjamin chipped in four points,
Michael Rogan had three, and
Nasir Rodriguez added two.
As a unit, the Stags shot 23-for-67 (34.3%) from the field, 9-for-28 (32.1%) from three-point range, and 18-for-24 (75%) at the free throw line.
Defensively, Wucherpfennig had four of Fairfield's nine blocks. Munkadi turned away three Stonehill offerings, and Benjamin got a piece of two. Wucherpfennig also reeled in three steals as the Stags won the turnover battle, 10-6.
The Skyhawks were paced by a double-double from Raymond Espinal-Guzman with 19 points and 12 rebounds. All-NEC Second Teamer Hermann Koffi added 14 for the visitors.
Fairfield University Men's Basketball is back in action to close out the Mahoney Classic presented by NIVEA MEN on Sunday, Nov. 16 for a 2 p.m. clash with Loyola Maryland.
The Greyhounds and Skyhawks will meet tomorrow – Saturday, Nov. 15 – at 2 p.m. as a part of the Mahoney Classic in the first-ever neutral-site college basketball game at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
Tickets for both games are on sale now at
FairfieldStags.com/TIX.
