As conference play looms, the Stags pulled ahead late to defeat the University of New Hampshire Wildcats by a final score of 72-68. This Sunday matinee featured high-energy play from first-year duo Brandon Benjamin and Declan Wucherpfennig, with Benjamin recording his second collegiate double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and Wucherpfennig earning his first with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
In just the first two minutes of play, the Stags dominated with a 9-0 run. At the four-minute mark, the first few inklings of tension started to show as Benjamin came up with a flashy block that was returned against him down the court just moments later. This back-and-forth nature translated its way onto the scoreboard, as the contest featured 11 lead changes and seven ties. Knotted up at 21 with 10 minutes to go in the midst of a 6-0 run from the Wildcats, senior guard Braden Sparks put the Stags ahead 23-21 with a textbook jumper on a fast break, his 15th point of 17 scored in the first half. Moments later, redshirt junior Ryan Zan made his way onto the court for the first time this season after missing six games due to injury; he would then pick up a foul less than a minute later, his first of two in that half.
The last few minutes of play got increasingly chippy. A highly contested foul was called on sophomore forward Isaac Munkadi, and the Fairfield faithful made sure to let their disappointment show as New Hampshire worked their way up to a 7-0 run. The tides worsened for the Stags in the midst of a cold streak, when Benjamin was called out for a flagrant foul and the Wildcats extended their lead to 45-35.
The second half opened with a comeback run and a layup from Wucherpfennig to take the lead back at 50-49. The Stag defense really started to shine, as they managed to hold the Wildcats scoreless for up to four minutes at three different points in the second half. “We did a really good job of defending in the second half,” head coach Chris Casey commented. “We kicked it up a notch defensively, which we needed to do in the game.”
Second-chance shots were also key for the Stags today; 11 of their 72 points came from Fairfield refusing to quit after a shot was missed. Benjamin and Wucherpfennig had seven and nine rebounds, respectively, within the last 20 minutes. “They’re extremely hard-working young men with a great approach and great attitude,” Casey said of the pair. “I think they both want to win.” The duo, along with Sparks, combined for 50 points and 29 rebounds.
As the ebb and flow of the game continued to the final stretch, the Stags’ chemistry was highlighted from an alley hoop that Wucherpfennig scored with the help of junior guard Cam Estevez to tie it at 61. After a few more fouls were called on the Stags during yet another three-minute scoreless streak, the final buzzer sounded, and the Stags secured their first five-win November in program history.
Up next for the Stags is a road trip to start in-conference play against Manhattan University on Friday, Dec. 6. Fairfield will stay on the road to then face Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Stags will be back in action at Mahoney Arena on Sunday, Dec. 14, versus Monmouth University.
