BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Jerry Johnson Jr. led five Fairfield players in double figures with 18 points and the Stags pulled away from Niagara in an 81-61 victory on Thursday night.

Amadou Sidibe and Tyler Nelson each scored 16 points, with Nelson snagging 10 rebounds. Curtis Cobb finished with 15 points, and Deniz Celen chipped in 10 for Fairfield (11-10, 6-6 MAAC).

The Stags shot 50 percent from the field overall, hit 11 3-pointers, and finished with 25 assists on their 33 field goals.

Fairfield ended the first half on a 15-4 stretch and took a 43-31 lead into the break. The Purple Eagles (8-16, 5-8) managed to stay within striking distance, cutting their deficit to nine (58-49) on a Matt Scott layup with 9:25 left.

But Cobb drilled a 3 two possessions later to push it back to double-digits, and the Stags pulled away from there.

Scott scored 18 for Niagara. Khalil Dukes added 16.