FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- After 12 days away from competition, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will return to the hardwood for a Sunday afternoon match up with North Carolina State University. The Stags have not played a game since hosting Bucknell University on December 6 at Webster Bank Arena.
The Wolfpack remained unbeaten at home with its 97-64 win over Appalachian State on December 15, the team's third straight victory. Dennis Smith Jr. led all North Carolina Stage scorers with 22 points and added six assists in the victory. The program has played only one road games this year (at Illinois) and three neutral games. The streak nearly ended in the Tennessee State game on December 10, needing a basket from Smith Jr. ,the ACC preseason rookie of the year, to force overtime. North Carolina State took command in extra time, scoring 17 of the 22 points in overtime.
Smith Jr. leads the team in scoring with an 18.7 scoring average, one of four double-digit scorers on the team. Terry Henderson (16.6 ppg), Torin Dorn (15.8 ppg), and Malik Abu-Abdul (11.8 ppg) are also in the foursome of scorers. Smith, Henderson, and Dorn all rank among the top 13 scorers in the ACC, the only conference team to boast that accomplishment. Dorn owns the top spot on the Wolfpack rebounding leader list, both checking in wtih 7.4 caroms per contest.
In their last effort, the Stags came up short against Bucknell, 75-64, despite another double-double from Amadou Sidibe (16 points, 15 rebounds). The loss was Fairfield's second straight after getting off to one of the best starts in program history at 5-1. Fairfield jumped out to a 7-2 lead but Bucknell worked its way back into the game. After several lead changes between the two squads, the Bison ended the first half with a 7-0 run that gave the visitors a four-point lead at intermission. Bucknell never surrendered its lead in the second half, winning the game by 11 points.
Tyler Nelson netted 12 points to extend his double-digit scoring streak 1o 23 games, giving the junior a team-best 19.9 scoring average. Curtis Cobb is the only other Stag in double figures with 13.8 points per game. Amadou Sidibe is just short of a season double-double with 9.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
The Stags feature the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's (MAAC) top scorer and top rebounder. Nelson leads all MAAC scorers with his 19.9 scoring average, while Sidibe rates first among MAAC student-athletes with 11.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Nelson is the ironman of the conference, leading the MAAC in minutes played per game (36.5). Fairfield remains the top shooting team in the conference with its .461 team field goal percentage.
