FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- It should be no surprise that the Fairfield University men's basketball team is in a New York state of mind as it plays the second of a three-game run against New York based schools. After playing at Siena on Sunday, the Stags head to Iona College for a Tuesday night match up in New Rochelle. Game time is 7 pm. The New York run ends with a home game against Marist on January 16.
Both teams come off a victory in their last outing. The Stags registered a 79-67 victory at Siena, while Iona knocked off Canisius at home on Saturday. The Gaels' victory was the third straight and fourth in their last five outings. Iona is in a three-way tie for the top spot in the MAAC with Fairfield just one game off the pace at 3-2. The Stags are in the midst of playing four games in eight days which includes Friday's home game with Marist and a January 18 contest at Monmouth.
The Gaels bring an 11-5 overall record into this game with seven of those victories coming at home. Iona plays its third straight home game on Tuesday before taking to the road for three contests and a neutral site match up with Niagara at Madison Square Garden on January 25. In their last game, Iona posted a 79-76 win over the Golden Griffs. Isaiah Williams led all scorers with 26 points while David Laury completed a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds, his eighth double-double of the season and fourth straight 20-point effort.
Two Gaels are averaging over 20 points per game, led by A.J English's 20.6 scoring average. Laury is a close second in scoring with 20.3 points per game. The team ranks as one of the top offensive teams in the MAAC, leading in scoring offense (84.4 ppg), field goal percentage (.483), and three-point field goal percentage (.425).
The Stags, 5-10 overall and 3-2 in the MAAC, picked up a road win at Siena with a 79-67 decision at the Times Union Center. The point total was the most points scored by Fairfield in regulation this year. The Stags netted 80 points against South Dakota, but the game featured overtime. Marcus Gilbert picked up 23 points in the Siena win, his third 20-point performance this year and first since he netted 24 points against Manhattan. Gilbert raised his team-leading season scoring average to 15.5 points per contest, more than double Amadou Sidibe's runner-up total of 7.4 points per contest.
Gilbert has been the team's top scorer in four straight games and in 11 contests this year. Sidibe saw his streak of double-doubles end at three after registering eight points and two rebounds at Siena. Still, Sidibe remains ranked fourth overall among the MAAC rebounding leaders at 7.9 per game. Two newcomers reached scored in double figures at Siena, namely Tyler Nelson (14 points) and Mike Kirkland (13 points).
The Stags return home on Friday night when they host Marist College at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is 7 pm. Tickets for the game and all Fairfield University men's basketball games can be purchased at the Webster Bank Arena box office or through www.ticketmaster.com.
