It has been a rocky season for Fairfield. Before Perry’s preposterous prayer, the Stags were just 8-14 overall, 4-7 in Metro Atlantic play. For a team searching for momentum, it is hard to concoct a better catalyst moving forward than Thursday night’s miracle.

With the game tied at 56–56 and just over a second left on the clock, Marist missed two free throws, and Fairfield's Deon Perry made them pay. The guard took the inbound pass, heaved it from the opposite three-point line, and swished it, sealing the 59-56 victory.