RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Braden Sparks scored a game-high 22 points and Declan Wucherpfennig was a force in the post with 15 points and 19 rebounds, but Fairfield University Men's Basketball was on the short side of a 70-66 decision on Friday at Manhattan in the Stags' Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener.
 
With the loss, Fairfield falls to 5-4 on the season, while the host Jaspers improve to 4-5.
 
Sparks' 22 points came on 8-for-16 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers. Friday marked his second consecutive 22-point effort and fourth time eclipsing the 20-point mark this season en route to a team-leading 16.8 points per game.
 
Wucherpfennig records his second consecutive double-double – the first two of his collegiate career. His 19 rebounds were the most by a Stag since Amadou Sidibe corralled 19 boards in a 2016 win over Army. The nine offensive boards are the most since Prophet Johnson had 10 from the offensive glass last season at Monmouth.
 
Halon Rawlins added seven points from the bench. Eric Mejia and Cam Estevez each chipped in six – with Estevez knocking down a pair of first-half triples. Deuce Turner scored five, Brandon Benjamin had four points, and Isaac Munkadi split a pair of free throws to finish with one.
 
Fueled by Wucherpfennig's 19 rips, the Stags gained a 45-35 advantage on the boards. Benjamin hauled in seven to aid in the effort, with Sparks and Munkadi corralling five apiece. Fairfield's 20 offensive boards were the most for the Stags since December 1, 2022 – also a MAAC outing at Manhattan.
 
After heading into halftime facing a 31-26 deficit, the Stags climbed back to within three points on a Wucherpfennig three-point play to make it a 40-37 contest with 12:22 left. Manhattan continued to put points on the board, keeping Fairfield at arm's length despite a Turner three-pointer and buckets down low for Wucherpfennig and Benjamin, and the Jaspers soon rebuild a 53-44 advantage with 9:13 to play.
 
Fairfield made a final push as in the closing minute as a Wucherpfennig layup and a Rawlins trey brought the Stags within four at 67-63. After the Jaspers tacked on a free throw, Sparks nailed a triple with 14.7 seconds left to make it a 68-66 game. But Jaden Winston nailed his two free throws on the other end to push the margin back to two possessions as time ticked away on a 70-66 final.
 
Winston paced the Jaspers with 18 points, six assists, and six steals as one of four Manhattan players to score in double figures.
 
The Stags close out the weekend this Sunday, Dec. 7 with a 1 p.m. outing at Merrimack. The Warriors, who hosted and defeated Rider, 68-66, to start their conference calendar on Thursday evening, own an overall record of 4-6.