ALBANY, N.Y. – Fairfield University Men's Basketball erased a 17-point deficit on Thursday evening at Siena, led by 20 points apiece from Prophet Johnson and Braden Sparks. But the host Saints made their only late push and then held off a final flurry to escape MVP Arena with a 68-64 decision.
 
The loss sends Fairfield to 11-19 overall and 7-12 in the MAAC. Siena earns the win in its home finale to move to 14-16 overall and 9-10 In conference action.
 
Johnson's 20 points marked his third consecutive 20-point game. He was also one rebound shy of a third straight double-double, finishing with a team-high nine boards. Johnson was 9-for-11 from the field and also registered a block and two steals.
 
Sparks' 20 points were a new career best for the junior, who shot 8-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the line. He filled out the stat sheet with one rebound, one assist and three steals.
 
The duo combined for 14 of Fairfield's points during the game's key stretch as the Stags flipped a 49-32 deficit to a 53-53 tie with 5:28 to go. Jamie Bergens also made his presence felt with two buckets during the run, and Deon Perry added the equalizer to knot the game.
 
Siena, however, broke the deadlock with four straight points and quickly rebuild a 63-55 advantage with 1:56 left. Johnson responded with a three-point play, but the Saints took two back from the free throw line to take a 65-58 lead as the game entered its final minute.
 
The last 60 seconds were a furious stretch beginning with a Kyle Jenkins three-pointer to take the deficit down to 65-61. Johnson came up with a steal on the defensive end and Jenkins swished home another triple, making it a 65-64 contest. With the Stags fouling to stop the clock, Gavin Doty made two free throws to edge the margin back to 67-64, and a clean but deep Bergens three-pointer drew iron as Siena regained possession and Doty tacked on one more free throw to ice a 68-64 final.
 
The Stags shot 15-for-25 (60%) in the second half to finish at 26-for-52 (50%) from the field for the game. In addition to the 20 points apiece from Johnson and Sparks, Bergens had eight points, Jenkins finished with seven, Mankuei Riek notched three and the trio of Louis Bleechmore, Peyton Smith and Deon Perry chipped in two apiece.
 
"We got off to a good start and had good possessions on both ends to close the first half," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "The start of the second half just put us in too big of a hole. The five guys that were on the floor for the last eight minutes played very hard and put us in a position to have a chance to win. But we needed more consistency for 40 minutes and we needed more production from our front court to win that game."
 
Justice Shoats had a game-high 23 points for Siena with five rebounds and five assists. Doty and Brendan Coyle finished with 12 points apiece for the Saints.
 
Fairfield University Men's Basketball closes out the 2024-25 regular season on Saturday night at Leo D. Mahoney Arena against Quinnipiac. The Stags will celebrate the graduating Class of 2025 prior to the 7 p.m. tip-off. Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.