FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball returns to the hardwood for a Sunday afternoon game with Manhattan College, closing out their season series. The game is set for a 3:30 tip at Webster Bank Arena. The women's basketball team hosts Siena in the first game of the doubleheader at 1 pm.
The Jaspers won their third game in four outings with their 65-57 win over Rider in their last game. Manhattan has won three of its last four games with all three victories coming at Draddy Gymnasium. Six of the team's nine wins this season have come over the last nine games, all coming against MAAC opponents.
In their last game, the Jaspers finished the contest with a 12-2 run that included a 9-0 spurt to close out the win over Rider. Shane Richards finished the game with 28 points, his eighth 20-point performance of the season. The Jaspers shot 64 percent from the floor and made four of five three pointers in the second half against Rider.
It should be no surprise that Richards was the team's top scorer against the Broncs since he is the team's top overall scorer this year with a 17.9 scoring average. Richards is also the team's top three-point threat as his 53 long range baskets is nearly double the total of RaShawn Stores of 28 three pointers. Rich Williams is next in line with 15.4 points per game followed by Zane Waterman's 11.0 points per contest. Williams is the team's top rebounder with 6.5 caroms every forty minutes. Tyler Wilson represents the team's top play maker, dishing off 116 assists in his 20 appearances (5.8 per game).
The Stags will try to end a two-game skid that was extended with its 91-67 loss to Monmouth on the road Friday night. The margin of victory is a little deceiving because the Stags were well in the game against Monmouth. Fairfield trailed by six points at halftime, and came within five points in the second half before Monmouth made a big run at the end of the game, outscoring the Stags 35-19 over the final 12 minutes to turn an eight-point lead into the 24-point victory.
Tyler Nelson led all scorers with 19 points while Marcus Gilbert added 12 points against Monmouth. Jerry Johnson Jr. came off the bench to score 10 points. Gilbert is averaging a team-best 18.3 points per game while Nelson places second with 16 points per contest. Jonathan Kasibabu, who secured a team-best nine rebounds against the Hawks, recaptured the team lead with 5.4 rebounds per game, just one-tenth of a carom better than Gilbert. Jerome Segura dished off four assists to bring his total to 116 assists.
