FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- After putting their feet on Connecticut soil for about 24 hours, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will get back on the road for a Wednesday night match up with Northwestern University. Ths Stags, who have played a neutral stie game against Yale and a road contest versus top-ranked North Carolina, will play their third game in six days when they roll into Evanston, Ill.
The schedule has certainly presented challenges for the Stags, playing the Ivy League preseason favorite in the opener followed by preseason top-ranked team in the nation in game two. Now, the Stags will face a Big Ten team that won its opener against another New England based school. Northwestern started its season with a 79-57 victory over UMass Lowell behind a strong effort from Alex Olah.
The senior posted his ninth-career double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, good enough to earn the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week award. The center made seven of 11 field goal attempts and seven of eight free throws to get to his 21 points. Aaron Falzon also reached 20 points, making four of six three-point attempts and 8 of 11 field goals overall.
Northwestern returns 87.6 percent of its scoring and 77.9 percent of its rebounding from last season. The Wildcats welcome back seven of their top eight scorers from a year ago. Tre Demps (12.5 ppg), Alex Olah (11.7 ppg), and Bryant McIntosh (11.4 ppg) all averaged in double figures last season. Olah was the team's top rebounder a year ago with 6.9 rebounds per contest.
Fairfield comes off a competitive game against the top-ranked team in the nation despite losing to North Carolina 92-65. The Stags trailed by eight at halftime and with 13 minutes remaining and just 11 points with nine minutes left. One of the reasons for the Stags good fortune was the play of Marcus Gilbert, who led all scorers in the game with 25 points. The preseason All-MAAC first teamer is averaging 16.5 points per game through the first two contests, tying for the top spot in the Yale game with eight points.
Freshmen Matija Milin (8.5 ppg) and Jerry Johnson Jr. (6.0 ppg) are among the top four Fairfield leading scorers with sophomore Tyler Nelson placing third at 8.0 ppg., highlighted by his 10 points against the Tar Heels. Jonathan Kasibabu has the most rebounds by any Stag despite not grabbing a carom in the Yale game. His team-high 10 rebounds against North Carolina put him one carom ahead of guard Jerome Segura, who grabbed a career-high four against Yale before surpassing that total with five in the North Carolina game.
Fairfield will play its home opener upon its return from Evanston, hosting Sacred Heart University on November 21 at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm, the second game of a college basketball doubleheader. The Fairfield University women's basketball team will start the twinbill by hosting Sacred Heart at 5 pm.
Tickets for the Sacred Heart doubleheader and all Fairfield University men's basketball games can be purchased at the Webster Bank Arena box office or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
