FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team will return home after a brief two-game road trip, welcoming Canisius College to Alumni Hall on Saturday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 1 pm tip and is slated for broadcast on ESPN3.
The Stags own a 2-1 record in MAAC play this season including back-to-back wins against Niagara (77-59) and Saint Peter's (60-57) one week ago. In their last game at Monmouth, the Stags achieved success early in the game, holding a few leads in the opening 10 minutes before the Hawks took control of the contest midway through the first half.
Jonathan Kasibabu continued his solid play in conference games, just missing a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Neftali Alvarez reached double figures with 11 points and dished off five of the team's 16 assists.
Kasibabu and
Landon Taliaferro are the only two Stags to hold a scoring average better than 10 points in overall play and MAAC action. Kasibabu averages 14.7 points in the conference and 11.5 points overall, while Taliaferro is the team's top scorer overall at 12.9 points every forty minutes and second in MAAC contests at 13.3 points per game. Kasibabu is just under a double-double in MAAC play with his 9.3 rebounding average and leads the team overall with 7.9 caroms per game.
Fairfield entered the weekend as the 51st ranked team in three-point field goal percentage (.376) and 37th in three-point field goals per game (9.6).
Landon Taliaferro places 16th in the nation with his .465 three-point field goal percentage, ranked 20th in total three-point field goals made (59), and tied for 30th in three pointers per game (3.28).
The Griffs posted a 65-63 win at Quinnipiac on Thursday night, a victory that stopped a three-game skid all of which came at home. After a 1-6 start to the season, Canisius has split its last 10 games including three wins in conference play. Of their five wins during this current run, four decisions have come on the road including a pair of MAAC wins at Marist and at Siena to start the conference campaign. And, four of the team's last five wins have come by four points or less including a one-point decision at Elon on December 16.
The Griffs committed just nine turnovers against Quinnipiac, including just two in the second half. Takal Molson provided the game-winning points with five seconds remaining, converting a layup that sent the team to its sixth victory. Molson finished the game a team-best 18 points, netting eight of 10 attempts including a pair from three-point range.Molson represents the team's top scorer for the season, averaging 17.1 points per game. Isaiah Reese, who registered 11 points against Quinnipiac, ranks second among his teammates with a 12.4 scoring average. He is also the team's top rebounder, securing 5.9 every forty minutes, and passer, dishing off 4.1 assists per outing.
Game Promotions - January 19, 2019
First Responders Day: All emergency services personnel, as well as active duty military and veterans, will receive free admission.
Touch-a-Truck: All children in attendance are invited to a Touch-A-Truck event outside Alumni Hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. featuring vehicles from the Town of Fairfield Fire and Police Departments, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut EMS.
Lil' Stags Club Day: All Lil' Stags Club members receive free youth admission for themselves AND a friend. A Lil' Stags Club membership card must be presented to redeem.
