FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball returns to Webster Bank Arena on Tuesday night when the squad hosts Monmouth University for a 7 pm game. The match up represents the first meeting between the Stags and the Hawks, the second of three straight games which will feature a first meeting between Fairfield and a conference opponent this year.

The Hawks posted a 90-84 win over Rider at home, allowing Monmouth to keep its hold on first place in the MAAC. The game featured 14 lead changes and 13 tied scores so it was not until the final minutes that Monmouth was able to take command of the game. With the game tied at 69, the Hawks used an 8-0 run fueled by two three pointers from George Papas and a dunk by Malik Martin to secure the lead for good with just over three minutes remaining. 

Ray Salnave led all starters with 21 points while Papas came off the bench to record his 21 points for the Hawks. Nikkeil Rutty completed a double-double against Rider by registering 11 points  12 rebounds. Deion Hammond represents Monmouth's top scoring threat this year, averaging 16.1 points per game. Salnave places second among his teammates with 14.9 points per contest. Hammond and Salnave are the team's top three-point threats, averaging 2.9 and 1.9 per game, respectively. Marcus McClary serves as the team's play maker, dishing off 3.5 assists per game.

The Stags only played one game last week, traveling to Rider last Friday night. The Broncs erased a three-point halftime deficit to win by a 68-52 score in Lawrenceville. The result was Fairfield's third straight road loss in MAAC play, giving the team a 1-4 mark in MAAC road games this year. Fairfield led by a 29-26 count at halftime but Rider used a 20-7 start to the second half over the first eight minutes to take command of the game at 46-36. 

Taj Benning scored 13 of his game-high and career-best 19 points in the second half of the Rider game, netting three of his four field goal attempts and five of six free throw attempts over the final 20 minutes. No other Stag managed to reach double figures with Vince Eze coming closest with his nine points. Benning has been the team's top scorer in three of the last five games, including 15-point performances against Saint Peter's and at Iona. Over the last five contests, Benning is averaging 13 points per contest. He found a good part of his recent success at the free throw line, netting 23 of 26 attempts (.884). 

Landon Taliaferro scored seven points at Rider, the third time in the last five games in which he did not reach double figures, yet still remains the team's top scorer with 13.6 points per game.  Jesus Cruz places second on the team with his 11. 8 points every 40 minutes, a number enhanced by his 12.7 scoring average over the last three games (38 points). Chris Maidoh paced the team on the boards against Rider, securing a squad-leading six rebounds to raise his number to 4.6  rebounds per game, just under Eze's top average of 5.7 per contest.

Game Promotions
Jersey Day: Fans ages 12 and under can wear a basketball jersey for discounted youth admission.
 
Free Student Shuttle: A free student shuttle will run between Alumni Hall and Webster Bank Arena beginning an hour prior to tip-off through the end of the game.