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FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The opening part of the 2017-18 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schedule has sent the Fairfield University men's basketball team on the road for four of its first six games. But that trend takes a turn in the Stags' favor for the rest of the month as Head Coach Sydney Johnson and his squad gets to play on its own court for three of the next four games with that odd came coming in a neutral setting.

The run starts on Saturday afternoon when Fairfield hosts Niagara University, a team which brings a five-game winning streak into the contest after posting an 81-73 win at Quinnipiac on Thursday night. The rest of the home stretch includes Rider University on January 23 and Iona on January 29, two dates which are wrapped around the January 27 match up with Quinnipiac at the Nassau Coliseum.

Fairfield comes off its best offensive output of the season but it resulted in a 95-89 loss in overtime at Marist College. Last season, the Stags scored 89 or more points in five games and ended up winning four of those contests. Senior Tyler Nelson was at the heart of the team's offensive performance last weekend, setting a season high with 35 points. The guard made 11 field goals with five of those coming from behind the three-point line. His performance raised his scoring average back to 20 points, coming into today as the conference's third leading scorer at 20.6 points per contest. He made all eight of his free throw attempts at Marist, which raised his season free throw percentage to .892. He entered the week ranked 27th in the nation for free throw percentage.

Ferron Flavors Jr. continued to find his range beyond the three-point line, picking up three more field goals from behind the arc to improve his team-leading three-pointers made total to 48. He along with Nelson make the Stags the only team in the MAAC with two players that have 40 or more three pointers to their credit. The duo is averaging a combined 5.53 three pointers per game, slightly better than Niagara's Khalil Dukes and Matt Scott's average of 4.85 three pointers per contest.. After Fairfield and Niagara, Rider's Jordan Allen and Frederick Scott, Marist's Ryan Funk and David Knudsen, and Iona's Deyshonee Much and Rickey McGill are tied for third with each pair combining for 4.11 three pointers per game. Flavors Jr. ranks second on the team with an 11.2 scoring average.

The Purple Eagles are enjoying their best season in five years with their 12 wins in 20 games so far., including their current win streak. Coming into the game, Niagara is tied for third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 5-2 record, just one game out of first place. Head Coach Chris Casey boasts the talents of the conference's top two scorers in Matt Scott and Kahlil Dukes, joining Fairfield's Tyler Nelson as the only student-athletes in the MAAC averaging better than 20 points per game. Scott, a four-time MAAC Player of the Week, averages a MAAC best  21.1 points per game, while Dukes, a two-time MAAC Player of the Week, owns a 21.0 scoring average. Dukes is the current MAAC Player of the Week after averaging 23 points per game in a 2-0 week for the Purple Eagles. The two scorers have helped Niagara become the top scoring team in the MAAC, averaging 83.1 points per game. The team has also excelled defensively, leading the conference with 4.3 blocks every forty minutes. The Purple Eagles have scored 80 or more points in 11 games which includes three 90-point or higher performances.

Niagara Gameday Promotions
Super Stags App Day: Earn extra points and exclusive prizes by checking into the game on the Super Stags App! One fan that checks in to the game will win a gift certificate to Westfield Trumbull!
 
Rally Towel Giveaway: The first 300 fans will receive a free Fairfield Stags Rally Towel.
 
Sydney Johnson Basketball Camp Reunion Day: 2017 campers receive a discounted $5 ticket. Must present valid confirmation email.
 
T-Shirt Exchange: Bring a college t-shirt (must be in acceptable condition for donation) in exchange for a new Fairfield Stags t-shirt. Shirts collected will be donated to the Salvation Army.

Postgame Autographs: Fairfield Men's Basketball will sign autographs after the game

Lyft Discount:  Get a $5 discount on Lyft rides from campus to Webster Bank Arena. Click here for more info

Student Shuttle: A free student shuttle will run from the Barone Campus Center traffic circle to Webster Bank Arena beginning at noon through the end of the game.