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FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Coming off its thrilling 103-100 overtime win against Iona, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will turn its attention to Monmouth University as the two programs will meet on the hardwood for the first time this season. Monmouth is one of three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) teams that the Stags have not faced this year, joining Canisius and Siena for that distinction. Fairfield will play all three of these teams over the next 10 days, including a home date with the Saints next Monday night as Webster Bank Arena.

For the second time in four games, the Stags reached the century mark with their 103-100 win over Iona at Webster Bank Arena. The game was tied at 85-85 after 40 minutes of play before Fairfield outscored its opponent by an 18-15 count to win the game. The game featured 19 lead changes as well as 11 tied scores before a winner was finally determined in extra time. Tyler Nelson led all scorers with 32 points and was instrumental in overtime by making seven of eight free throws over the final five minutes. Three other Stags reached double figures, namely Ferron Flavors Jr. (13 points), Jonathan Kasibabu (10 points), and Aidas Kavaliauskas (10 points).

After putting up a season-low .338 field goal percentage against Quinnipiac one game earlier, the Stags came back with a .534 field goal percentage against Iona, just under the team's season-best .536 field goal percentage against Niagara. Nelson's performance against Iona raised his scoring average to 21.3 points and represented the fourth time this season that he hit the 30-point mark. Ferron Flavors Jr. remains the team's number two scorer with 11.7 points every forty minutes. Jonathan Kasibabu drew six rebounds against Iona, solidifying his team-leading 5.0 rebounding average. 

Nelson continues to make his run at the Fairfield record books, looking to move into second place on the program's all-time scoring list. The senior has collected 1,888 points so far and now sets his sights on Joe DeSantis '79, who tallied 1,916 points during his four-year stay. Tony George '86 holds the school record with 2,006 points.

The Hawks nearly erased a 20-point second half deficit, coming as close as five points on several occasions but could not complete the comeback bid against Rider. Monmouth fell by a 92-85 score, one game removed from netting 91 points against Marist at the Nassau Coliseum. At the heart of both of those performances was Austin Tilghman, who posted a double-double in both games, giving the senior four double-doubles for the season. He started his current run with 24 points and 12 rebounds against Marist before following up with 18 points and 11 assist in the Rider game. He also recorded a triple-double in the Yale game with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 15 assists.

Ray Salnave picked up a team-high 19 points in the Rider game, his third double-digit performance in the last four games. Micah Seaborn, who did not play in the Rider game, is the team's top scorer with a 14.8 scoring average, joining Deion Hammond (12.0 ppg) and Tilghman (11.8 ppg) as the team's top three scorers. Tilghman is also the Hawks' leading rebounder with a 6.0 average.The Hawks will play their fourth MAAC home of the season on Friday night, looking to improve on their 2-1 record to date. The team has played 14 of its 21 games this season away from campus which includes 12 away games and two neutral site contests.