FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team will host Oakland University for its final non-conference home game of the 2018-19 season Thursday night. The game will be played at Alumni Hall with the tip scheduled for 7 pm, the first of seven games slated for the on-campus facility. The game marks the Stags' first home date since playing back-to-back dates at Webster Bank Arena on November 13 and 17.

The Stags are looking to rebound from a 63-60 setback at Army West Point, the team's sixth game away from campus this season. Fairfield trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half but tallied the last seven points of the half to pull within 38-27 of the Black Knights by intermission. The Stags rallied to take the lead late in the second half but Army West Point regained the lead in the final minutes and hung on for the three-point decision. Neftali Alvarez led all Fairfield scorers with 14 points and tied his career-high with four steals. Wassef Methnani was the other Stag in double figures, posting a season-best 12 markers including a pair of three-point field goals. Fairfield suffered through a season-high 21 turnovers which led to 27 points off those miscues for the Black Knights.

Fairfield has two student-athletes averaging better than 14 points a game, namely Brandon Taliaferro (15.4 scoring average) and Alvarez (14.8 scoring average). Taliaferro was held to six points against Army West Point, all coming from behind the three-point arc. The scoring total marked the first time that Taliaferro failed to reach double figures since joining the Stags (eight games). Taj Benning led the team in rebounding with seven against the Black Knights and raised his average to 3.1 per game. Jonathan Kasibabu remains the team leader with 5.1 rebounds per date.

Taliaferro is currently 4th  in the nation in three-point field goal percentage, netting 58.5 percent of his attempts. The junior has netted 31 of his 53 attempts this season. He is tied for 13th in three-point field goals made per game with 3.88, a number which decreased after  he posted a season-low two three pointers at Army West Point last Saturday. His 31 three pointers made is tied for ninth in the nation along with Purdue's Ryan Cline. Detroit-Mercy's Antoine Davis leads the nation with 46 three pointers in eight games.

The Golden Grizzlies come off an impressive showing at Xavier University, falling to the home team by a 73-63 margin. Oakland trailed by just five points at halftime before falling to the double-digit final margin. Xavier Hill-Mais led all scorers with 30 points, making 13 of his 21 field goal attempts. He just missed a double-double by posting eight rebounds in his 36 minutes of work. Braden Norris was the team's other player in double figures, adding 14 points which included four three-point baskets (six attempts). He also added a team-best eight assists in the game.

Norris has 18 assists in his last two appearances, including a personal-best 10 against Northern Illinois. Hill-Mais is the team's top scorer with a 25.3 scoring average which places eighth in the nation. Jaevin Cumberland is next in line with 14.6 points per game. Norris is shooting a sizzling 79 percent from three-point range (19 of 24) and averages 9.5 points per game.

Before the game, fans are welcome to join the Fairfield University community at 6:15 PM outside of Egan Chapel for the annual tree lighting which is free and open to the public. Also, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will remember legendary former head coach and director of athletics George Bisacca with a moment of silence, celebrating his life and career as an educator and mentor. The ceremony will begin approximately at 6:55 pm. 

Game Promotions

Class of 2022 Night co-sponsored by FUSA: All members of the Class of 2022 in attendance will be entered to win raffle prizes including Visa gift cards and three months of Stags Laundry service. Winners will be announced throughout the game and must be in attendance to claim their prize.

FYE Event: This game is the final 'Connect' event of the semester for all First Year Experience students.
 
"Return of the Red Sea" Student T-Shirt Giveaway: The first 500 students in attendance will receive an exclusive "Return of the Red Sea" t-shirt.
  
Fairfield Stags Santa Hat: The first 100 students in attendance will receive a Fairfield Stags Santa Hat.