In their first game of the spring semester, the Stags thrilled the Leo D. Mahoney Arena crowd with a nail-biting finish to defeat the Niagara Purple Eagles 62-61. First-year guard Tony Williams drained the game-winning three-pointer with just 7.4 seconds left on the clock, electrifying the audience of students and families eager to witness a win.
Niagara edged itself to a 61-59 lead with a turnover to keep the ball with a minute to go. Drawing a charge under the hoop was Williams, who won the possession and kept Fairfield alive with just under 40 seconds on the clock. After a missed shot and then a clutch rebound, the Stags called time to reset. Drawing attention to the paint, the ball was sent back to Williams, waiting behind the arc, and the rookie drained the three whilst a chorus of cheers egged him on.
Head coach Chris Casey commended Williams for his shot, “When it came down to making a play at the end of the game, Tony hit a big shot, and we found a way to win.”
Tonight’s win brings the Stags to 12-9 overall and 4-6 within the MAAC, along with a season sweep of Niagara. At home, the Stags are now 8-2. “The hardest thing to do is win on the road in college basketball if you go through statistics,” Casey commented. “When you add to the fact that we got a great fan base, great crowd, great energy in the building, it helps us tremendously.”
The Stags fed off the energy of the crowd throughout the night. First year Declan Wucherpfennig contributed 13 points and a game-leading 13 rebounds, earning his fifth double-double of the season. First year forward Brandon Benjamin scored 18 of his own and snatched 11 rebounds to secure his MAAC-leading ninth double-double of the season. This is the third time both rookies secured a double-double in the same outing.
Williams, who scored 11 points, credited Casey for his confidence in making big-time plays. “I shoot it with confidence, and Coach Casey has the confidence in me to shoot the ball,” he said. “That’s the shot I work on every day; it’s nothing new for me. Why wouldn’t it go in?”
Senior guard Braden Sparks rounded out the scoring with 10 points and five assists, as the MAAC’s leading scorer.
Tonight’s matchup featured strong play from the defensive side of the Stags. First-year Halen Rawlins finished the Purple Eagles off with a defensive rebound to run out the remaining time on the clock.
With the game’s six turnovers, Casey noted the grit needed to pull away with a win: “I thought we left some points out there at times.” He added, “But we found a way to win, and that’s what’s important in games like this.”
The Stags are back in action at the Mahoney Arena this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 pm, with the 8-12 Canisius Golden Griffiths set to pay a visit.