FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team will host Marist College for the team's final regular-season home game on Friday night. The two teams will meet at Alumni Hall with the opening tip scheduled for 7 pm. Prior to the game, Head Coach
Sydney Johnson and the University community will honor the men's basketball seniors with a ceremony that will start approximately at 6:45 pm.
The Stags come off a 72-59 win against Manhattan at Alumni Hall, the team's third win at its on-campus facility this season. Fairfield trailed for less than 90 seconds in this game and build leads as big as 21 points (58-37 with 7:36 left in the 2nd half).
Landon Taliaferro drew attention with his eight three-point field goals, one off the school record of nine held by Curtis Cobb (Jan. 2017 at Manhattan) and Mike Evanovich (March 2010 at George Mason). The junior finished the game with a game-high 26 points in 39 minutes of work. The Jaspers scored the first points of the game before
Matija Milin's three-point field goal put the Stags in front for good at the 17:51 mark of the first half. The senior finished the game with 14 points by making five of eight shots from the floor.
Taliaferro's performance improved his team-leading scoring averages to 12.5 points per game overall and 12.3 points per contest in MAAC play.
Jonathan Kasibabu continued to show his versatility by dishing off a season-high tying four assists against Manhattan. The senior remains the team's top rebounder with 7.4 per game which also places second among all MAAC student-athletes.
The Red Foxes will play their second straight road game after falling to Siena College last Sunday by a 67-55 count. Marist has had some success on the road this year with six away victories, including three straight wins at Canisius (78-71), at Quinnipiac (63-61) and at Monmouth (75-67). This match up represents the team's final road game of the year as it finishes up at home against Rider on Sunday. Against the Saints, Marist held an early 17-6 lead before Siena used a 14-2 run which featured 11 straight points to secure the lead at 20-19. The home team would lead by as many as 16 points in the second half. Brian Parker led all Marist scorers with 15 points while Ryan Funk posted 11 points. Marist, which normally shoots 37 percent from three-point range and averages just over eight three pointers per game, made just 2 of 17 shots from behind the arc (11 percent) against Siena.
Parker is the team's top overall scorer with 14 points per game, followed by Funk's 11.7 scoring average. Isaiah Lamb holds down the top spot under the rebounding column with 4.5 per game.
Game Promotions
Senior Night: A pregame ceremony will celebrate the graduating seniors from Fairfield Men's Basketball.
Class of 2019 Night co-sponsored by FUSA: Pregame gathering at the Levee with free pizza and beverages for the Class of 2019.
Students age 21 or older must present a government-ID as well as a StagCard to be served alcohol.
RED OUT: The first 500 students in attendance receive a red Fairfield Stags t-shirt. All fans are encouraged to wear red.
Town of Fairfield Appreciation Night: Fairfield residents can purchase tickets at the door on gameday for only $5. Adults are asked to provide a valid driver's license, government-issued ID or other proof of residence.
