RETURN OF THE MAAC
Fairfield University Men's Basketball concludes the 2025 calendar year and resumes MAAC action on Monday, Dec. 29 with a visit from Saint Peter's. 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 ROLL IN NON-CON FINALE
Fairfield closed out the non-conference portion of the slate with a 121-58 win over the visiting Division III City College of New York on Dec. 22 at Mahoney Arena. Braden Sparks had a career-high 26 points to lead six Stags to net double figures and a total of 12 to contribute to the scoring output.
 
Declan Wucherpfennig also set a new career mark with 20 points and hauled in game-leading 13 rebounds.
 
Halon Rawlins netted 13 points, Deuce Turner scored 11 to lead the bench scoring, and the duo of Tony Williams and Nasir Williams had 10 points apiece.
 
Making his first start of the season, Isaac Munkadi had a career night with seven points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Cam Estevez and Ryan Zan also each scored seven points.
 
Eric Mejia scored six points off a 6-for-6 day at the free throw line, and the duo of Tanner Ostop and Joe Ganton each tallied the first two points of their collegiate careers.
 
COACH CASEY ON CCNY
"Throughout the non-conference schedule, we've done a good job of just focusing on getting better individually and collectively. Over the last few weeks, I feel like we've really made some strides in key areas."
 
NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
With the victory over CCNY, Fairfield finished at 8-3 against non-conference opponents. The Stags last won eight non-conference games in the regular season in the 2012-13 campaign, the most by a Fairfield team in the era of 18-20 MAAC games.
 
121 POINT INSPECTION
The Stags' 121 points against CCNY marked the second-highest scoring game in Fairfield history, topped only by the historic 123-103 win over #14 Holy Cross on Jan. 21, 1978.
 
It was the 31st 100-point game in program history and the eighth time tallying 110 points or more.
 
The 63-point margin of victory is a new program record, surpassing the 110-55 victory over Medgar Evers in 2021.
 
Fairfield's 42 made and 88 attempted field goals, 16 made and 41 attempted three-pointers, and 21 made and 25 attempted free throws were all 2025-26 season highs.
 
The Stags also set season bests with 56 rebounds, a +24 rebound margin, 17 assists, 14 steals, 5 turnovers committed, and 23 forced turnovers.
 
THE SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY PEACOCKS
Saint Peter's rolled into the holidays at 5-5 following a 116-50 win over Division III Centenary. The Peacocks also own non-conference wins over FDU and UMass Lowell, and started MAAC play at 2-0 with home victories over Canisius and Niagara.
 
Saint Peter's setbacks came at Seton Hall, VCU, Delaware, Georgetown and at home to Dartmouth.
 
Brent Bland leads the Peacocks in scoring with 16.0 points per game. Bryce Eaton adds 10.7 points and a team-leading 4.1 assists per outing.
 
US AND THEM
Fairfield is 65-67 all-time against its most frequent opponent, dating back to 1951.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The Stags started four true freshmen in the back-to-back wins over Monmouth and CCSU: Brandon Benjamin, Declan Wucherpfennig, Halon Rawlins, and Tony Williams. The foursome accounted for 40.5 points and 23.5 rebounds per game in those two contests.

Senior Braden Sparks joined the rookie quartet in the starting lineup. The MAAC's leading scorer has started every game this season.
 
MAKE IT FOUR
As announced on Monday, Dec. 22, Brandon Benjamin secured his second consecutive MAAC Rookie of the Week nod -- his fourth overall distinction this season.
 
Benjamin scored a career-high 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and a 5-for-6 day at the free throw line to go along with nine rebounds in the 84-70 victory at CCSU on Dec. 18.
 
NEW YEAR IN (WESTERN) NEW YORK
The Stags ring in 2026 in Western New York, opening January with MAAC games at Canisius on Jan. 2 and Niagara on Jan 4.