In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, Fairfield emerged victorious with a narrow 78-75 win against Rider, thanks in large part to the performances of Deon Perry and Peyton Smith.
Perry was a standout player, scoring 19 points and contributing effectively from the three-point line with four successful shots. Smith’s timely tip-in proved crucial as he secured the game-winning basket with just 1.6 seconds remaining on the clock.

As the game neared its conclusion, Rider’s Zion Cruz successfully converted a pair of free throws, tying the score at 75 with only 14 seconds left. Fairfield’s Prophet Johnson attempted a reverse layup underneath the basket but missed, allowing Smith to swoop in for the put-back that turned out to be pivotal. Smith also added a free throw shortly after, sealing the victory for the Stags.

In addition to Perry’s contributions, Louis Bleechmore also had an impressive performance, netting 16 points and hitting four of five from beyond the arc. Smith finished the game with 15 points, rounding out a solid offensive effort by the Stags, who now hold a record of 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

On the other hand, Rider’s Tariq Ingraham had a strong showing, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Teammate TJ Weeks Jr. matched Ingraham’s scoring effort with 21 points of his own, while also contributing with two steals and two blocks. Ife West-Ingram added 10 points, but despite their efforts, the Broncs fell short, starting their conference play at 0-1 and finishing the game with a record of 4-5.