THE OPENING TIP
Fairfield University Men's Basketball heads to Albany for the first and only scheduled meeting with the Siena Saints. Opening tip from MVP Arena is slated for 7 p.m. with Robert Lee and Kelly O'Donnell calling the action on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT
Prophet Johnson posted his seventh double-double of the season to lead Fairfield in a Sunday clash at crosstown Sacred Heart. But the junior's 24 points and 13 rebounds were not enough to overcome the hot-shooting Pioneers, who took the contest by a final score of 83-62.
 
In addition to his seventh double-double, the contest was also Johnson's fifth 20-point game and the first instance of back-to-back 20-point outings for a Stag this season. Johnson also headed the defensive effort with four steals.
 
Peyton Smith made all six of his field goal attempts to finish with 12 points on the day, and Braden Sparks added a dozen of his own. Rounding out the scoring, Isaac Munkadi and Makuei Riek netted six points apiece and Jamie Bergens had two.
 
Sacred Heart was led by 18 points and nine rebounds from Bryce Johnson. The Pioneers canned a total of 11 three-pointers, led by five from Griffin Barrouk on his way to 17 points.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, FOR THE LAST TIME
As a result of the MAAC's unbalanced schedule, Fairfield goes head-to-head with Siena for the first time in the penultimate game of the regular season. With exception of the 2020-21 season that was contested under strict Covid-19 policies, this game marks the latest that the Stags' have met a MAAC opponent for the first time.

During that 2020-21 "Covid schedule" season, the Stags did not see Manhattan until the final two games of the regular season (and met the Jaspers a third consecutive time to start the MAAC postseason). Fairfield also did not play Monmouth until the MAAC postseason in that campaign.

THE SIENA COLLEGE SAINTS
Back-to-back losses have dropped Siena to 13-16 overall and 8-10 in the MAAC. The Saints have played 13 games decided by two possession or less (or in overtime), going 4-9 (1-9 MAAC) in those games.

Justice Shoats ranks sixth in the MAAC with 15.8 points per game, pacing four Saints averaging in double figures. Deep threat Brendan Coyle in second among MAAC shooters with 3.00 made three-pointers per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Stags' sweep in 2023-24 was their first since 2017 against the Saints, who hold a 47-35 lead all-time in a series that dates back to 1959. 

Fairfield's best run in the series came from 1995-98, winning seven of eight encounters. The Stags have are in search of four in a row against Siena since the start of that stretch. Fairfield has never won three straight road games in the series with Siena.

STAG SPLITS
With last Friday's win over The Mount, the Stags have split the MAAC series with four opponents (Iona, Marist, Manhattan, Mount). In the other completed MAAC home-and-home sets, Fairfield picked up a sweep over Rider and was swept by Merrimack and Sacred Heart.

In Saturday's regular season finale, the Stags will look to salvage a split with in-state MAAC foe Quinnipiac.

A SEPTET OF DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Prophet Johnson's 24 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday at Sacred Heart marked his seventh double-double of the season. The last Stag with at least seven double-doubles was Supreme Cook, who had eight in his final season at Fairfield in 2022-23.

IF IT'S UP, IT'S GOOD
Peyton Smith was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field on his way to 12 points at Sacred Heart on Sunday. He is the first Fairfield player to make at least six field goals without a miss since Supreme Cook went 8-for-8 against Loyola on Nov. 28, 2021.

UP NEXT
The Stags conclude the regular season at Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Saturday, March 8 with a 7 p.m. visit from Quinnipiac. Fairfield Men's Basketball will recognize its Class of 2025 prior to the game.