NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Makai Mason scored 23 points and Brandon Sherrod 20, and Yale opened its season with a 70-57 victory over Fairfield on Friday.

Sherrod and Mason had 12 points apiece in the first half when the Bulldogs built a 35-26 lead.

Jerry Johnson Jr. hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and cut Yale's lead to 35-29. But Yale, leading 46-37, took off on a 15-0 run to lead 61-37 with 7:55 to go.

The Bulldogs shot only 37.9 percent, including 5 of 21 3-pointers, but they outrebounded the Stags 47-24, including 19-4 on the offensive boards. Jack Montague added 13 points.

Sherrod rejoined the Bulldogs after spending last year singing with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world's oldest collegiate a cappella group. As a junior in 2013-14, he was fourth on the team in scoring.

It was the opener of the Connecticut 6 Classic being held at Central Connecticut.