ATLANTIC CITY - The Saint Peter's men's basketball team (17-11, 14-6 MAAC) plays its first game of the 2026 MAAC Championship against Fairfield (20-12, 11-9 MAAC) on Friday night at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET and is going to be televised on ESPN+.
The No. 2 Peacocks already faced off against the No. 7 Stags twice this season and won both times, taking them down, 70-66, on the road and, 83-74, at home. This is the 135th meeting all-time between the two teams and the 17th in the MAAC Tournament.
Brent Bland has been the leader for Saint Peter's on and off the court this season as the longest tenured Peacock, being with the program since 2021-22. He was just named All-MAAC First Team as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches, while averaging 14 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.
The frontcourt trio of
Zaakir Williamson,
Lucas Scroggins and
Jahki Gupton has also been a problem for opposing teams all season. They have combined for seven double-doubles this year, with Williamson and Scroggins each recording three. Williams leads the group in scoring, averaging 8.7 points per game, and Gupton isn't far behind, putting up 7.9 points a night. Scroggins has made his presence felt in the paint, leading the team with 2.9 offensive rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
ABOUT THE FAIRFIELD STAGS
The No. 7-seed Stags are coming off a 71-60 win over No. 10-seed Manhattan last night in the First Round of the MAAC Championship, shooting 38.5 percent (25-for-65) from the field and 37.0 percent (10-for-27) from 3-point range.
Fairfield held just a four-point advantage over the Jaspers at halftime before ultimately pulling away in the second half for an 11-point victory.
Fairfield had four guys score in double figures, highlighted by Braden Sparks who dropped 17 points to lead all players. Brandon Benjamin was just one rebound away from recording a double-double, finishing with 15 points and nine boards. Declan Wucherpfennig dominated the glass as he finished the night with 13 rebounds. The Stags have now won four of their last five and six of their last eight games.
Fairfield is coached by Chris Casey, who is in his second season as head coach of the Stags.
NOTES
This will be the 135th meeting all-time between Saint Peter's and Fairfield. The Peacocks are 69-65 all-time against the Stags and have won the last four meetings between the two teams. Saint Peter's has also won the last three matchups against Fairfield in Atlantic City, dating back to 2022. The Peacocks are 9-7 vs. the Stags all-time in the MAAC Tournament.
