FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Prophet Johnson scored 20 points to lead three players netting double figures as Fairfield University Men's Basketball knocked off Mount St. Mary's, 69-62, in a pivotal MAAC matchup on Friday night at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Kyle Jenkins added 14 points and Jamie Bergens had 13 in the home triumph.
 
"We competed very hard tonight, especially on the defensive end. Mount is good offensively and made some tough shots, but we made some tough ones too," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "Throughout the game, we just had guys answer. They would go on a run and we would respond. These guys always work hard, and I think we're starting to see more and more payback from that."
 
With their second straight win, the Stags improved to 11-17 on the season with a 7-10 MAAC record. The Mount falls to 17-11 overall and 11-7 in league action.
 
Johnson's 20 points were a part of a standout showing for the junior, was also tallied five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Jenkins' 14 points were highlighted by three straight three-pointers to nullify a hot-shooting streak for the Mount, and Bergens' 13 points were capped by a three-pointer in the final minute that extended Fairfield's lead to 67-62.
 
Louis Bleechmore and Braden Sparks each added eight points, with Deon Perry and Peyton Smith capping the scoring with three points apiece.
 
On the day, the Stags shot 26-for-63 (41.3%) from the floor, 12-for-31 (38.7%) from three-point range and 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the free throw line.
 
Fairfield was outrebounded, 39-28, but made up that margin committing only six turnovers while forcing 18 – and converting them into 21 points.
 
The Stags got off to a hot start as a Bergens trey followed by a Johnson steal and dunk forced a quick Mount timeout. Bleechmore added a trey after the stoppage to make it an 8-0 start and the lead grew as large as 22-11 as the first half neared its midway point. However, the Mount responded with its own 16-3 spurt, surging in front with 3:22 to go until halftime.
 
The final response of the period went to the Stags, with back-to-back three-pointers for Johnson and Sparks capping the frame to send Fairfield into the intermission with a 33-29 advantage.
 
Both offenses heated up coming out of the locker room. The Mount eyed a comeback led by Carmelo Pacheco, who made three consecutive three-pointers on the visitors' first three possessions of the half. But that effort was answered by Jenkins, who also drained treys on three straight trips to keep the Stags in front. Bleechmore then added his own effort from downtown to push the margin to 47-40.
 
The Mount did not go quietly, responding with an 11-4 run to knot the game at 51-51, but Fairfield had an answer once again courtesy of a Bergens bucket, a Perry triple and a Smith three-point play to push the advantage back to 59-51 with 8:51 to go.
 
Once again, the Mount fired back, eventually riding three straight buckets from Jedy Cordilia to tie the game for what proved to be the final time at 62-62 with 2:49 left. The Stags' response was an emphatic one when, after a Bergens offensive rebound, Bleechmore elevated high above the defense and threw down a Johnson alley-oop to put Fairfield on top for good, 64-62.
 
After a stop on the defensive end, Fairfield corralled two more offensive boards on its next trip, winding the clock under one minute to play. The Stags ended the long possession with a Bergens three-pointer to grow the lead to 67-62. Following another empty trip each way, Johnson came up with a steal in open space and drew a flagrant foul as he went unimpeded to the basket. The junior made both free throws to earn his fourth 20-point game of the season and seal the 69-62 triumph.
 
"The energy level in this arena and the way our fans support us is fantastic and it helps us tremendously," added Casey after Fairfield's seventh home win of the campaign. "We all appreciate it and it absolutely has a positive impact on what we do."
 
Prior to the game, Fairfield recognized graduate student Jamie Bergens. While the Stags will officially host Senior Night next Saturday, March 8, Bergens was celebrated this evening with several family members from the Netherlands in attendance.
 
Fairfield Men's Basketball returns to action on Sunday, March 2 at crosstown MAAC foe Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are 13-15 overall and 9-8 in the MAAC after a 67-54 over Marist this evening at the Pitt Center.
 
Fairfield also travels to Siena next Thursday, March 6 before closing out the home schedule on Saturday, March 8 against Quinnipiac at 7 p.m.