Game Notes
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team finishes its four-game road swing on Sunday afternoon with the Stags taking on Niagara University. Game time is slated for 2 pm at the Gallagher Center. The game will also be televised on WCTX Channel 59, the New Haven My9 affiliate (please check your cable/satellite provider for channel number on your system).
The Stags remainied tied for first place with Iona College following its 67-60 win at Canisius University on Friday night. Fairfield owns a 2-1 record on its current four-game road swing, finishing up the trip this afternoon. After this trip, the Stags will have only three MAAC road games remaining - Manhattan, Saint Peter's, and Iona. The teams owns a 6 -3 road record and a 4-1 MAAC road mark.
The Stags moved up to number two in the nation for scoring defense at 54.7 points in the last set of NCAA statistics (games through January 19). Stephen F. Austin (53.5 ppg), leads the nation in that category. Fairfield remains number one in the MAAC statistics for scoring defense, rebounding margin and scoring margin.
Derek Needham remains the team's top scorer, checking into today's action with a 14.1 scoring average. He has scored in double figures in all but two games this season. Ryan Olander is next in line with a 9.7 scoring average, while Yorel Hawkins stands at 8.5 points per game. Olander is the team's top rebounder with 7.3 caroms per contest.
Niagara brings a 4-16 overall record and a 1-7 MAAC mark into today's game. The Purple Eagles have not spent much time in the Gallagher Center this year. Niagara has played just six home games in 20 outings this season. At one stretch, the Purple Eagles played nine of 10 games away from campus. Today will mark only the second time that the Purple Eagles will play back-to-back home games so far this season.
Anthony Nelson, who became Niagara's latest 1,000-point scorer on January 15, entered the weekend as the nation's leader for steals per game, registering 3.4 thefts per game. He tallied 20 steals in a three-game run before picking up one steal against Iona on Friday night. He remains on pace to establish a school record in that category, an honor currently held by former teammate Tyrone Lewis. Lewis recorded 2.6 steals per game during the 2008-09 campaign.
Marvin Jordan represents the team's top three-point threat, placing fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with 43 long-range jumpers through Friday night. He entered the weekend as the conference's top freshman for three pointers made.
