HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAYS
Fairfield University Men's Basketball gets one more game on the slate before Christmas when the Stags host CCNY on Monday, Dec. 22. Opening tip-off from Leo D. Mahoney Arena and live on ESPN+ is set for 7 p.m. with the Hall of Fame duo of Bob Heussler and Joe DeSantis '79 calling the action.
 
STAGS RUN THROUGH CCSU
Fairfield raced out to a lead as large as 31 points over host Central Connecticut on Thursday evening in New Britain, rolling to an 84-70 victory. Braden Sparks scored a game-best 21 points and Brandon Benjamin netted a career-best 19 to go along with nine rebounds.
 
Sparks needed just 13 field goal attempts and 28 minutes to amass his 21 points. The MAAC's leading scorer shot 8-for-13 from the floor and knocked down four three-pointers to tally his sixth 20-plus point scoring performance of the season.
 
Reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week Benjamin stated his case for a fourth award next week, as he compiled 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting with nine rebounds.
 
Tony Williams scored points for the Stags, Halon Rawlins netted five, and Declan Wucherpfennig had three along with eight rebounds.
 
The Stags also benefited from 29 bench points in the game, led by 12 points from Eric Mejia and 11 points for Deuce Turner.
 
COACH CASEY ON CCSU
"That was a great road win against a team that's been playing very good basketball this season. We came out with intensity right from the opening tip, and we got contributions for everybody. Those are two things we'll need to do every game to be successful the rest of the way."
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The Stags have started four true freshmen in the back-to-back wins over Monmouth and CCSU. Rookies Brandon Benjamin and Declan Wucherpfennig have started every game this season, with classmates Halon Rawlins and Tony Williams joining them in the starting five.
 
Over the last two games, the foursome has accounted for 40.5 points and 23.5 rebounds per contest.

Senior Braden Sparks joins the rookie quartet in the starting lineup. The MAAC's leading scorer has started every game this season.
 
NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
With a victory over CCNY, Fairfield would finish at 8-3 against non-conference opponents. The Stags last won eight non-conference games in the regular season (not including postseason tournaments) in the 2012-13 campaign.
 
THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK BEAVERS
The City College of New York is 1-6 on the season entering Monday's game, which will be an exhibition for the Beavers. CCNY also played an exhibition at Quinnipiac earlier this season.
 
In their seven regular season games to date, the Beavers have been paced by 22.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for Justin Morety. Michael Bowman adds 13.6 points per outing.
 
US AND THEM
Fairfield and CCNY met for five consecutive seasons from 1960-64 when both teams were members of the Tri-State Conference. The head-to-head series ended, with the Stags holding a 5-0 lead, when Fairfield joined the Division I ranks beginning in the 1964-65 campaign.
 
ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY ON DECK
The Stags are back in action and back at Leo D. Mahoney Arena next Monday, Dec. 29 to resume the MAAC portion of the schedule and conclude the 2025 calendar year against Saint Peter's.
 
Opening tip-off with the Peacocks is set for 7 p.m.