Game Notes

               FAIRFIELD, Conn. --- With so much at stake during the first weekend of March, it's no wonder that Head Coach Sydney Johnson and his staff do everything they can to prepare the men's basketball team for those critical three or four days  in Albany. It's during those first few days in March when the teams of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) come together to determine  a champion, and more importantly decide the program that will go to the NCAA tournament and represent the conference.

                Even though it's November, Coach Johnson looks at this weekend's multi-team event at Wright State as a precursor to that March weekend. Just like the MAAC tournament format, the Wright State Tournament, which also features Jacksonville University, Gardner-Webb University in addition to the host school, will provide a unique opportunity to the Stags. By playing three games in three days this weekend, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will be experience the same type of grind it must endure if it hopes to achieve its goal of winning a conference title.

                "The tournament style is absolutely critical," Coach Johnson said. "Like when we go to Albany, we cannot put one game ahead of another this weekend. You have to play the games as they are presented. If this journey plays out the way we see it, we will have to play three games in a row in the MAAC tournament. This type of tournament set up helps me give an eye to our team, especially with so many new guys, on what we will need to do up in Albany come March."

                There is one major difference between this weekend in Dayton and March in Albany. By the time March Madness rolls around, the Stags will have faced every MAAC team at least once and will have some familiarity with their respective opponent each night. But this weekend, Fairfield will play Jacksonville University for the first time which is a common theme across this three-game event.

                But the fact that Fairfield will play these teams for the first time does not concern Coach Johnson. From his perspective, this tournament, especially early in the season, gives him the opportunity to provide his student-athletes with the one thing he thinks will benefit them the most.

                "For this team, it's really important that we play games," Coach Johnson said. "We have an experienced core of guys but we also have an essential core of new guys that will have a role in our postseason aspirations that just need to play games. I think game experience for the freshmen is so important. So it's not important to me whether we are playing a team for the first time or for the tenth time. It's just about putting these guys on the court and letting them learn and get the experience needed for us to move forward as a program."

        Fairfield will open the Wright State Tournament on Friday, November 24 by playing Jacksonville (1-3 overall) at 4:30 pm. The Dolphins collected their first win of the season with an 88-70 decision over Webber International University last Monday. Devin Harris picked up his second career double-double with a personal best 23 points and 11 rebounds in that win. Jacksonville never trailed in the game and held a double-digit lead for most of the game. Jacksonville has been buoyed by the return of Jace Hogan, who played his second game of the season and contributed with 14 points and five rebounds.

        Hogan and JD Notae represent the team's top two scorers with a 19.0 and 14.3 scoring average, respectively. Harris (14.0 ppg) and Tanner Rubio (12.0 ppg) are also averaging in double figures on the season. Hogan, who earned five rebounds against Webber International, has the best rebounding average among his teammates with eight caroms per game.

                On the second day, Fairfield will play Gardner-Webb University, which entered this week with a 1-3 record but still had a game against Brevard College to play before heading to Dayton. The Runnin' Bulldogs collected their first win of the season with a 119-81 victory over Warren Wilson College, a team which posted 144 points in a win just two games before playing Gardner-Webb.

                The Runnin' Bulldogs saw four student-athletes reach the 20-point mark in the win over Warren Wilson, led by Liam O'Reilly and David Efianayi who both scored 24 points. D.J. Laster registered a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Eric Jamison netted 21 markers in the victory. Laster leads the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game in his four starts. Efianayi is next in line with a 16.0 scoring average, followed by O'Reilly who checks in with a 12.5 scoring average.

                The Stags close out the tournament by playing the host school on Sunday, November 26 beginning at 3:30 pm. Wright State also brings a 1-3 record into the tournament after beating Tiffin University by a 73-49 count on Monday night. Everett Winchester came off the bench to pace the Wright State offense, netting 18 points and grabbing team-best seven rebounds in the win.

                Winchester is the team's leading scorer despite not starting a game this season. He averages 13 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his four appearances. Grant Benzinger is second among his teammates with a 12.5 scoring average, followed by two more double-digit scorers in Justin Mitchell (10.7 ppg) and Mark Hughes (10.0 ppg).

                With new teams in a tournament format, Coach Johnson will rely on the same trio that has provided the experience and leadership to the newcomers through the first couple of weeks. He will look to Tyler Nelson, Jerome Segura, and Jonathan Kasibabu to provide the insight that has been so instrumental in Fairfield's early season success.

                "It's so important to have players on the court who can get our freshman to trust in us and our system," Coach Johnson said. "Tyler, Jerome, and Jonathan are out there in practices and in games encouraging them to make that extra pass and telling the newcomers not to worry because they have their backs. It's a whole other level when you have guys on the court in the moment who can help you earn that trust and belief from the newcomers."

                It's that trust and belief between the upperclassmen, the underclassmen, and the coaching staff that will fortify itself this weekend and hopefully carry into March.