BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Interstat) — Brandon Benjamin posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and the Fairfield Stags used a decisive second-half surge to overcome the Monmouth Hawks 73-65 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Webster Bank Arena.

The Stags, who improved to 6-5, trailed by three at halftime but outscored the Hawks 41-30 after the break. The key stretch came early in the second half when Fairfield transformed a 39-37 lead into a 48-41 advantage with a 9-2 run, capped by a driving layup and a free throw from Benjamin. Monmouth, which fell to 5-6, never recovered, unable to cut the deficit below five points the rest of the way.

Benjamin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Newark, New Jersey, was the game’s dominant force, adding two assists and two blocks in 30 minutes. His work on the glass was pivotal, as Fairfield held a 13-8 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points. His defensive presence also helped limit Monmouth’s interior opportunities.

Fairfield’s Declan Wucherpfennig added 15 points and six rebounds, while point guard Braden Sparks led all scorers with 17 points and chipped in six rebounds. The Stags shot efficiently from the field, connecting on 32 of 67 attempts for 47.8%, including 8 of 17 from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 111.7 points per 100 possessions far outpaced Monmouth’s 101.0.

Monmouth was led by Cornelius Robinson’s 14 points and Jason Rivera-Torres’ 13 points and six rebounds. Point guard Jack Collins orchestrated the offense with 10 assists but was held to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Hawks struggled from deep, making just 5 of 17 three-point attempts, and were hampered by a season-low three total assists as a team.

The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring seven lead changes. Monmouth built its largest lead at 27-22 following an Andrew Ball jumper with just over four minutes remaining, but Fairfield closed the period on a 10-8 spurt to trail only 35-32 at intermission.

The Stags seized control immediately after halftime. A layup by Wucherpfennig and a three-pointer from Tony Williams gave Fairfield a lead it would not relinquish. Monmouth stayed within striking distance until the 13:44 mark of the second half, when Benjamin converted a driving layup through a foul. Though he missed the ensuing free throw, the basket ignited the 9-2 run that provided the necessary separation.

Monmouth made a final push in the closing minutes. Trailing 68-60, a layup by Robinson and a steal and score from Stefanos Spartalis cut the lead to 68-64 with 2:01 to play. Fairfield responded coldly, as Sparks drilled a critical three-pointer from the wing on the next possession off a feed from Eric Mejia, effectively sealing the victory at 71-64 with 1:32 left.

The game was a defensive struggle at times, with both teams recording three steals and committing nine turnovers. Fairfield’s rim protection proved superior, blocking six shots to Monmouth’s four. The Stags also won despite a dismal 1-for-5 performance at the free-throw line.

A crowd of 1,474 watched the contest. The result defied pregame projections, as statistical models had given Monmouth a 63% probability to win.

Monmouth looks to rebound when it hosts Quinnipiac on Wednesday. Fairfield travels to face Central Connecticut on Thursday.