Game Notes

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The wait is over. The season officially begins for the Fairfield University men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon as the Stags take on Sacred Heart University as part of the Connecticut 6 Classic. The two teams will meet at the Mohegan Sun Arena for a 4 pm tip-off.

Fairfield is coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history, winning 23 games, advancing to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament championship game, and earning a berth to the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament. And, the Stags posted a win in the postseason tournament with a dramatic decision over George Mason University.

The Stags have a solid nucleus returning from that successful season, led by sophomore Derek Needham. The guard earned All-MAAC preseason honors in addition to accolades from practically every college preview magazine, ranging from the preseason MAAC player of the year to the conference's best NBA prospect. Needham averaged better than 16 points per game as a rookie.

Yorel Hawkins will be back in the lineup after missing a portion of the injury last year. While he was in the lineup, the forward averaged 14-plus points per game and was dominating scorer when he was on the floor. Warren Edney and Greg Nero both missed the entire season a year ago, but are ready to take the floor on Saturday. 

Sacred Heart returns two starters from last season, namely Jerrell Thompson and forward Mehmet Sahan  Thompson earned a starting spot at the point last season and finished the year averaging 7.0 points per game and was fourth in the Northeast Conference in assists with 133 (4.6 pg) and third in assist to turnover ratio (133 a / 69 to). Sahan started 26 games last year and averaged 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.  He was third on the team in rebounding 

The Pioneers finished the year with a 14-15 overall record and a 7-11 mark in Northeast Conference play. Sacred Heart was selected ninth in the NEC preseason coaches poll.