'PHINS TO THE LEFT, 'PHINS TO THE RIGHT
Fairfield University Men's Basketball heads to Syracuse, N.Y. for a Saturday, Nov. 22 clash with Le Moyne. Tip-off from Ted Grant Court is set for 1 PM.
 
MAHONEY CLASSIC CHAMPIONS
Fairfield went 2-0 at the inaugural Mahoney Classic presented by NIVEA MEN -- the first-ever multi-team event ("MTE") to take place at Mahoney Arena.

The Stags defeated Stonehill, 73-71, in overtime and Loyola, 85-82, to cap an unbeaten home weekend.

Deuce Turner was named the NIVEA MEN "Man of the Game" after both outings, averaging 26.0 points per game at the event.
 
OPEN HOUSE
Including last Friday's overtime win over Stonehill, the Stags have won five consecutive home openers. The current run includes all four seasons of the Mahoney Arena era.
 
MINUSCULE MARGINS
Fairfield has won consecutive games by one possession for the first time since the Stags defeated Siena, 70-69, and Monmouth, 69-66, to conclude the 2018 regular season.
 
Fairfield also the previous game by two possessions but in double overtime, 102-98, over Quinnipiac in the instant classic at Webster Bank Arena in which Tyler Nelson broke the Stags' all-time scoring record.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Fairfield made it a 2-0 weekend at the Mahoney Classic presented by NIVEA MEN as the Stags knocked off Loyola Maryland, 85-82, on Sunday afternoon. Deuce Turner scored a game-best 30 points to lead four Stags netted double figures in the victory.
 
Turner followed up Friday's 22-point effort with a 30-point game in which he shot 12-for-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from three-point range. The 12 made field goals marked a career high for Turner, whose career-best scoring mark is a 34-point outburst against Saint Mary's in the 2023-24 season as a member of the University of San Diego.
 
Eric Mejia got the start and responded with 14 points and five rebounds. Braden Sparks filled out his statline with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Brandon Benjamin was the fourth Stag in double figures with 13 points and a game-leading eight rebounds.
 
Fairfield protected the ball to the tune of just seven turnovers in the fast-paced outing. Loyola committed 13 miscues, including Sparks' three steals and two swipes by Mejia.
 
COACH CASEY ON LOYOLA MARYLAND
"Your season is made in close games. You're going to have a handful of games that are going to be decided by one or two possessions or in overtime, and you need to be good in those moments. We did that twice this weekend, and I'm proud of us for that."
 
ON THE 30 PIECE
Deuce Turner's 30-point game in the Sunday win over Loyola marked a season high for any Fairfield player.

The last Stag to net 30 points in a game was Prophet Johnson, who racked up 35 in the home win over Quinnipiac last March that clinched a berth in the 2025 MAAC Championship.
 
A total of four Stags have scored 30 points in a game at Mahoney Arena: Turner, Johnson, Caleb Fields (33 vs. Marist), and Brycen Goodine (venue-record 37 vs. Canisius).
 
THE LE MOYNE COLLEGE DOLPHINS
Le Moyne is 2-3 on the season following a 74-68 win over Niagara on Monday at Ted Grant Court. The Dolphins have also hosted and defeated Division III SUNY Cobleskill while losing true road games at Xavier, Bowling Green, and UMass.
 
Deng Garang and Trent Mosquera lead Le Moyne with 13.2 points per game apiece. Shilo Jackson adds 11.8 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per outing.
 
US AND THEM
Le Moyne is 4-1 in the all-time series, which dates back to 1948. However, courtesy of the December 2023 win for the Stags at Mahoney Arena, Fairfield is unbeaten against the Dolphins for more than 70 years.
 
THE OLD STAGS AND THE SEA
Fairfield is 12-16 all-time against teams with aquatic (loosely defined) mascots. Listing does not include any type of Pirate, Viking, or Explorer... and extensive research could not determine if a Dragon should count.
 

Florida Gators	0-1
Florida Southern Mocs	0-1
Jacksonville Dolphins	0-1
Le Moyne Dolphins	1-4
Maryland Terrapins	0-2
Miami Hurricanes	0-1
Pepperdine Waves	1-0
Tulane Green Wave	2-0
UNCW Seahawks	1-1
Wagner Seahawks	7-5

 
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Fairfield returns home next week for two games surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
The Stags meet Columbia on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and New Hampshire on Sunday, Nov. 30.