FAIRFIELD, CT – Braden Sparks led four in double figures for Fairfield with 19 points as the Stags defeated Siena Basketball 72-58 at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
 
Sparks scored 14 of his points in the first half for Fairfield (19-11, 11-8) which has won eight of 10 since its Jan. 19 setback in Albany to position themselves in the thick of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference race. Now 7-1 when playing an opponent the second time around, the Stags moved into a tie for fifth with Quinnipiac while keeping their hopes at a First Round bye in next week's MAAC Tournament alive.
 
Gavin Doty scored a game-high 26 points but was the only player in double figures for Siena (19-11, 12-7) which, despite the setback, still has a chance to secure the two-seed Sunday. The top-two seeds get an extra day of rest in between games next weekend. The Saints would clinch the two seed with a win coupled with a Marist victory over Saint Peter's. However, Siena will enter the final day of the regular season with a chance to still be seeded anywhere from 2-6, pending outcomes from across the league.
 
Fairfield opened the evening with a 13-4 start and never looked back. The Stags led by as many as 16 in the opening half, and took a 37-23 lead at the break. The Saints shot just 31% in the first half, including only 1-11 from three.
 
Siena shaved the deficit down to nine early in the second half, but Fairfield responded with a 13-1 run to open as much as a 21-point cushion with 11:43 to go. The Stags cruised from there to improve to 12-3 at Mahoney Arena.
 
Reserve Deuce Turner scored 17 points and Isaac Munkandi added 13 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting for Fairfield which connected at a 52% clip.
 
Declan Wucherpfennig posted a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Stags which held a decisive 49-24 rebounding advantage despite being without the league's leading rebounder and seven-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Brandon Benjamin. Fairfield entered play leading the MAAC in both rebounding (38.2) and rebound margin (+3.7).
 
Justice Shoats contributed nine points and six assists for the Saints who were also down a frontcourt starter in Antonio Chandler. Francis Folefac added nine points for Siena which shot just 36% from the field including only 4-23 (17%) from three. The Saints began the day leading the league shooting 46.7% from the floor.
 
Despite the loss, Siena finishes its road slate with nine true road wins, tied for second most in program single-season history.
 
The Saints will now look to regroup quickly as they host Rider in the regular season finale Sunday at 2 p.m. at MVP Arena. Siena will honor its six-member senior class – featuring five players and a manager – in a special pregame ceremony at 1:40 p.m.  
 
This postgame recap is proudly presented by The Brothers that just do Gutters, a proud partner of Siena Athletics. Trust the team that always comes through – on the court and for your home.