FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team plays its first road series of the MAAC schedule with a trip to Niagara University. The Stags come off a split with Iona College in the team's conference openers last weekend
The Stags posted drew even in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with their 67-52 win over Iona on December 12. Fairfield, which dropped the series opener, benefited from four student-athletes in double figures including three starters - Caleb Green (14 points), Taj Benning (10), and Jalen Leach (10). Chris Maidoh came off the bench to register a double-double with a career-best 11 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds. The Stags defense was in full charge last Saturday, allowing a season low 52 points with a season-best 17 forced turnovers. And, Fairfield added five blocks against Iona, the most in a single game this year. The Gaels failed to score 30 points in either half, trailing by 13 points after netting 23 points in the first half and adding 29 points over the final 20 minutes.
Benning retained the lead in season scoring with his 10 points against Iona, giving the senior an 11.8 scoring average. Jesus Cruz (10.3 ppg) and Green (10.0 ppg) are next in line on the scoring list. Tsheifu Ngalakulondi and Supreme Cook are the team's top rebounders with their 6.3 and 6.2 averages respectively.
The Purple Eagles bring an 0-3 overall record and an 0-2 MAAC mark into this weekend's series which includes a pair of setbacks against Saint Peter's during the team's conference opening weekend. Kobi Nwandu paced the Purple Eagles' offense against Saint Peter's, averaging a team-best 12.5 points per game over the weekend. He started the series with 14 points before following up with 11 points one day later. Marcus Hammond also put together two solid games highlighted by his 15 points on December 12, leading to an 11.0 scoring average during the two days. Coming into the weekend, Niagara is averaging 49.3 points per game but has a slightly better average in conference games with a team scoring average of 51.5 points every forty minutes.
Nwandu is the team's top scorer in MAAC play with his 12.5 scoring average while Hammond (11.0 ppg) and Justin Roberts (10.0 ppg) are also averaging in double figures against conference foes. Nwandu and Roberts have found the range from three-point range in MAAC play as well, shooting 50 percent from long range by netting four of eight three point tries so far.
Following the road series with Niagara, the Stags will host Fairleigh Dickinson on Tuesday, December 22 before breaking for the holiday. The team will resume conference play with a two-game set against Rider University on January 1 and 2 at Alumni Hall.
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