Fairfield opens Mahoney Arena with win over St. Peter’s

FAIRFIELD — The wait of 1,004 days was worth it.

Fairfield hosted is first men’s basketball game in the newly opened Mahoney Arena Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd with the Stags christening the new building in style, defeating defending MAAC champion St. Peter’s 67-55.

The last time Fairfield played on campus in front of fans was March 1, 2020 and players and coaches were thrilled to be back in front of a raucous home crowd.

“This was a great night for our university and a great night for our basketball team,” Fairfield head coach Jay Young said. “It’s an incredible honor for these players. This is something they will come back in 50 years and tell their grandkids that they played in the first game here.”

The women’s team opened the $51 million, 3,500 seat arena with two home games against Stonehill and Michigan but this was the first time fans got to see the men’s team in action.

The Stags played the 202021 season on campus at Alumni Hall without fans due to

COVID-19 protocols and played all of their home games at Webster Bank Arena (now Total Mortgage Arena) in Bridgeport as Mahoney was being built.

History will note the first basket scored in Mahoney Arena was by Fairfield’s Allan Jeanne-Rose with a layup.

Jeanne-Rose finished with 11 points, but it is his first basket which goes down in Stags’ history.

“That was pretty cool,” Jeanne-Rose said. “We were all dreaming about this moment ever since they started building this building. I come from a really far country (Martinique) and I have never experienced anything like this. I am blessed to score this first basket and help us get the first win in this building.”

Scores of former Fairfield basketball alums were honored at halftime.

Fairfield played its first eight games this season on the road, going 2-6 in those contests.

The Stags will have plenty of time to get comfortable in their new home, not playing another road game until Jan. 13 at Iona.

Starting with the St. Peter’s game, Fairfield will play eight-straight games a home with its next contest coming up Wednesday when they get a visit from crosstown rival Sacred Heart.

Young said he hopes the first home win will lead the team to respond positively to a stretch of games at home.

“Everybody has been asking what we have been missing here and this was it,” Young said. “We are not missing it anymore. We have been nomads since I have been here. Different buildings, different venues and a lot of road games. We have all kind of been waiting for this day to happen so we could get back to these guys playing on their court in front of their fans.”

Caleb Fields, a 6-foot-2 graduate student guard for Fairfield led all scorers with 19 points.

Fields said all the players are looking forward to some time on campus before they have to ride a bus or stay in a hotel again.

“Being on the road that much was tough,” Fields said. “There are ups and downs but it is just a blessing to be home, honestly. To have the fan base we have and people who care about us and support us. It is all a blessing.”