JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — A pivotal Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup awaits Sunday when the Fairfield Stags visit the Saint Peter’s Peacocks at Yanitelli Center. Both teams enter the Feb. 15 contest on winning notes. Fairfield (16-10) has won two straight, including a 63-60 home victory over Marist last Saturday. Saint Peter’s (14-8) has also won two consecutive games, most recently a 70-65 win against Siena. The game features a compelling backcourt duel between two of the league’s top performers. Fairfield is led by guard Braden Sparks, who is averaging 18.1 points over his last eight games. He scored 20 points in the win over Marist and poured in a season-high 27 in a road win at Iona on Jan. 30. He will be matched by Saint Peter’s standout Bryce Eaton, who is coming off a 22-point performance against Siena and a 21-point, 6-assist effort in a win at Manhattan on Feb. 5. Eaton has scored in double figures in five of his last seven outings. The recent series history favors the Peacocks, who earned a 70-66 victory at Fairfield on Dec. 29. In that game, Saint Peter’s overcame a second-half deficit, holding the Stags to 38% shooting from the field. Fairfield’s success has been built on a strong January, where they went 6-2 in conference play before a slight stumble in early February. Their offense has shown potency, scoring 92 points in a road win at Sacred Heart on Feb. 5. Saint Peter’s has been formidable at home in Jersey City, boasting a 9-2 record at Yanitelli Center this season. Their defense has been a constant, holding opponents to 66.5 points per game at home. With both teams jockeying for position in the MAAC standings ahead of the conference tournament, Sunday’s contest carries significant weight. The Stags will look to avenge their December loss and improve their road record, while the Peacocks aim to protect their home court and solidify their standing near the top of the league.