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FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team hosts Kent State University for a NIT second round game on Sunday afternoon. Tip off is slated for 12:30 pm at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPNU.

The Stags are making their sixth appearance in the NIT, also playing in the in the 2003, 1996, 1978, 1974, and 1973 editions. Fairfield owns a 2-5 record in the tournament, which includes Tuesday night's win over Colorado State. The victory ended a five-game losing streak in the NIT. The last Fairfield win was an 80-76 decision over Marshall in the 1973 edition, the program's first-ever game in the tourney.

The Stags will host a NIT game for the third time in school history this afternoon. Fairfield welcomed Boston College to the Arena at Harbor Yard for the 2003 tournament, a 90-78 setback. Head Coach Ed Cooley was an assistant coach at Boston College in that game. Fairfield also hosted Providence in the 1996 NIT at the New Haven Coliseum which resulted in a 91-79 loss.

Fairfield is second in the NCAA Division I scoring defense stats, allowing 57.8 points per game. Stephen F. Austin leads the nation by allowing 56.7 points per game. The Stags have allowed less than 60 points in a game in 18 games this year, and less than 50 points in seven contests.

Derek Needham continues to lead the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game, while Ryan Olander and Yorel Hawkins are the other Stags scoring in double figures with at 10.3 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. Olander is also the team's top rebounder, gathering 6.8 caroms per game.

Kent State is making its 12th post-season appearance in the last 13 years, and playing in its second consecutive NIT. This year's tournament marks the ninth time that the Golden Flashes are participating in the NIT, and own a 4-8 record all-time in the NIT and a 2-6 slate in NIT road games.

The Golden Flashes are the first Mid-American Conference team to win back-to-back regular-season titles, and only the second program to accomplish that task in the last 48 years. Kent State posted a 25-7 record in MAC games over the last two seasons, which includes this year's 12-4 record.

Justin Greene captured the 2011 MAC Player of the Year, while teammate Michael Porrini earned the 2011 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Greene was an All-MAC first team pick, while Porrini was an All-MAC honorable mention selection.

Kent State is the only team in the MAC with five players averaging better than 9.5 points per game, led by top scorer Justin Greene at 15.5 points every forty minutes. Rodriquez Sherman (12.8 ppg) and Carlton Guyton (12.5 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for the season. Greene is also the team's top rebounder at 8.4 rebounds per contest.