Fairfield defeats Rider 68-62

Fairfield Takes Down Rider in Conference Thriller

The Fairfield Stags hosted their conference rival, Rider Broncs, at Leo D. Mahoney Arena last night, and the home team emerged victorious with a 68-62 win.

In a closely contested affair, Fairfield led by as many as 14 points midway through the second half, before Rider made a late surge to cut the deficit to six with just over two minutes remaining. However, the Stags were able to weather the storm and secure the narrow victory.

Braden Sparks was the star of the show for Fairfield, scoring 23 points on 5-of-14 three-point shooting and converting 36.8% of his field goal attempts. The sophomore also chipped in with 13 rebounds and three assists, helping the Stags dominate the boards.

For Rider, Flash Burton led the way with 27 points on 62.5% shooting from the field. However, the Broncs struggled to find consistency on the perimeter, making just one of five three-point attempts.

The game's turning point came at halftime, when Fairfield took a 34-22 lead and never looked back. Rider would cut the deficit in half in the second half, but the Stags' defense held strong, limiting the Broncs to just six fast break points.

In terms of advanced statistics, Fairfield's eFG% (41.9%) and True Shooting Percentage (47.4%) were notable, as they limited Rider's scoring opportunities and forced the Broncs into tough shots. Meanwhile, Rider's TO Ratio (15.9) was a major concern, as it led to 10 turnovers that Fairfield was able to capitalize on.

The win brings Fairfield's conference record to [X], while Rider falls to [Y]. The Stags will look to build momentum in the coming weeks, while the Broncs will seek to bounce back from this tough loss.