FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Visiting Rider claimed its only lead of the game, 59-58, with 4:11 to go in Friday's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contest at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. But Fairfield University Men's Basketball scored the next eight points and held the Broncs without a field goal for the remainder of the game to close out a 68-62 victory. Braden Sparks dropped a team-best 23 points for the Stags, and the rookie duo of Brandon Benjamin and Declan Wucherpfennig each recorded a double-double in the win.
 
"We fought incredibly hard for 40 minutes tonight, and that's the first thing you need to win in this conference," said Head Coach Chris Casey. "Credit to Rider for making a run, but I'm proud of our guys for staying composed and executing down the stretch to bring home the win."
 
With their second straight MAAC victory, Fairfield improves to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Broncs fall to 1-13 on the year with an 0-5 MAAC tally.
 
Sparks – the MAAC's leading scorer – knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 23 points. He also hauled in five rebounds and dished out a team-leading three assists.
 
Wucherpfennig scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, and completed his double-double with 11 rebounds. Benjamin completed his MAAC-leading seventh double-double with 10 points and a game-high 13 boards.
 
To complement the Fairfield scoring effort, Eric Mejia scored six points – including three crucial free throws down the stretch – with Deuce Turner adding five. Tony Williams knocked down an early three-pointer, Michael Rogan made the start and chipped in two points and three bounds, and Isaac Munkadi knocked down a pair of free throws for two points.
 
Led by the duo of Benjamin and Wucherpfennig, Fairfield earned a 45-37 rebounding advantage. The Stags pulled down 17 offensive rebounds that led to a 23-3 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Flash Burton led all scorers with 27 points for Rider. Zion Cruz added 19 as the Broncs' starting backcourt accounted for 46 of their 62 total points.
 
After the teams traded baskets to start the action, Fairfield made the first run of the day as a Williams' three-pointer started the Stags on a 10-point spurt to take a 14-4 advantage. The lead grew as large as 14 (27-13) over the opening 20 minutes and the Stags took a 34-22 edge into the half.
 
Fairfield maintained its double-digit lead out to a 48-38 margin with 12:32 to play and kept Rider at arm's length – buoyed by seven straight from Wucherpfennig over the next stretch of action – to hold a 58-50 lead with 6:34 left. However, the Broncs answered with their lone extended run of the evening, pouring in nine points in just 77 seconds to claim a 59-58 lead with 4:11 left.
 
Fairfield answered on its next possession with two Mejia free throws to regain the lead just 26 seconds later and, after a stop on the defensive end, Wucherpfennig grabbed an offensive board and put it home to extend the med to 62-59. Fairfield earned a shot clock violation on the next Rider trip, and another Wucherpfennig offensive rebound setup a Sparks corner trey to double the cushion at 65-59 as the clock ticked under two minutes to go. Mejia tacked on another free throw to make it a 66-59 advantage entering the final 60 seconds of action when the Broncs' Burton drew contact attempting a three-pointer and made all three tries to cut the deficit to 66-62 with 22 seconds to go. With Rider fouling intentionally, Wucherpfennig answered with two free throws for the Stags to ice the 68-62 final.
 
Tonight's win marked Fairfield's fifth straight over Rider. Sparks' five three-pointers move him into 26th on Fairfield's single-season list, and Benjamin's six offensive rebounds propel him to 21st on the ledger since the stat was tracked officially beginning in the 1986-87 season.
 
The Stags will enjoy a bye on Sunday before diving into a stretch of three games in six days beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Mahoney Arena against Manhattan. The Jaspers, who host Niagara on Sunday before making the trip to Fairfield, are 7-10 overall and 3-3 in the MAAC after a 70-64 loss to visiting Canisius tonight in Riverdale.

Tickets for Wednesday's game are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.