FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- With the non-conference schedule completed and tucked away, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will open the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) portion of its schedule by hosting Rider University on Thursday night. The Stags and the Broncs will meet at Alumni Hall beginning at 7 pm, the first of six MAAC home games played at Fairfield's on-campus facility.
Rider enters the game with a 5-7 overall record after dropping its last two road games to Cal State-Northridge (81-80) and VCU (90-79). The Broncs owned a 4-3 record before its current road trip, posting a 1-4 mark over the span that included three road games and two neutral setting contests. Rider played eight games during the month of December, the most of any MAAC school. Manhattan, Niagara, and Quinnipiac were the closest in number of December games with each program taking the court six times.
Against VCU, Rider scored the first points of the contest but surrendered a 9-0 run that pushed the home team in front for good. Five Broncs reached double figures in the game, led by Jordan Allen, Kimar Williams, Stevie Jordan, and Ahmad Gilbert, all of whom posted 12 points in the contest. Rider's defense forced 13 turnovers and scored 20 points off the VCU miscues.
Allen leads the team in scoring with a 14.3 scoring average, while Dimencio Vaughn, who missed the VCU game, ranks second at 12.7 points per game. Tyere Marshall is the Broncs' top rebounder at 5.4 caroms per contest. Jordan leads the team with 49 assists in his 12 appearances, averaging 4.1 per contest.
The Stags open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this evening by hosting Rider University. Fairfield will play six of its nine remaining home games, all against MAAC opponents, at Alumni Hall beginning with tonight's match up.
The team has not played since its December 22 game against New Hampshire, a 63-57 decision that ended a four-game skid dating back to it last home game against Oakland University (December 6). After that game, Fairfield played consecutive road games at Old Dominion, at Boston College, and at New Hampshire. The Stags have played in seven different states this season, including their home state.
Neftali Alvarez, who earned his third MAAC Rookie of the Week award on December 24, leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game, one of two Fairfield student-athletes in double figures. Alvarez also holds the top spot on the team for assists (3.5 per game) and steals (1.8 per contest).
Landon Taliaferro represents the team's other double-figure scorer with 12.7 points every 40 minutes. His three-point shooting prowess is well known, netting 38 long-range jumpers in 12 starts (3.1 per game).
Jonathan Kasibabu places third in scoring (9.9 ppg) and a team-best 7.3 rebounds per outing.
Game Promotions
Back to School Night: Youth fans can ring in 2019 with a photo with Lucas the Stag in the lobby.
Lil' Stags Club Night: 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.
Youth fans (eighth grade and younger) can join the Lil' Stags Club for free admission to all Fairfield Athletics events held on campus throughout the 2018-19 season.
