Feb. 27, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the third time in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament history, the Fairfield University and Niagara University men's basketball teams will face each other in post-season play. The eighth-seeded Stags and the ninth-seeded Purple Eagles are slated for a Friday, March 3 match up with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm. The game will be televised by MAAC TV and also be broadcasted on the Sirius Satellite Network.
This pairing could prove to be the most exciting of the first round games since these two teams have a rich history of close contests. In fact, 11 of the last 15 meetings between Fairfield and Niagara have been decided by five points or less, including both of this year's games. The home team ended up winning the game in this year's two-game set, beginning with the Purple Eagles' 78-73 win in upstate New York on January 12. Fairfield responded with a 68-64 victory in Bridgeport on February 5.
In the first meeting, Niagara's starters played nearly the entire game with four of the five players managing 36 or more minutes in the contest. Clif Brown dominated with a double double that included 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Terrance Todd shot 50 percent from the floor (6 of 12) enroute to a 14-point performance.
Three weeks later, three Fairfield starters reached double figures with Todd netting 18 points and eight rebounds in the win. Dewitt Maxwell and Michael Van Schaick each tallied 16 points for the home team. Six Niagara players reached double digits with J.R. Duffey providing a team-high 18 points. Brown came off the bench for another double double, registering 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The two teams played a close game in their first MAAC tournament meeting as well. Niagara played its first MAAC tournament in 1990, and it was Fairfield that was responsible for sending the new addition home. The Stags fell behind by a 26-21 count at halftime, but used a rally in the second half to send the game into overtime at 57-57. Marvin Walters tallied five of the team's nine points in the extra period to take control. Ed Duncan's two free throws with 14 seconds remaining iced the game at 66-61, before Niagara scored the final points with five seconds remaining to make the final 66-63. Drew Henderson tallied a double double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, while Walters led all scorers with 25 points.
The Stags cruised to a MAAC tourney semi-final victory in 1996, knocking off the Purple Eagles by a 70-47 margin in Albany. Fairfield jumped out to a 32-23 lead in the first 20 minutes of play, as Greg Francis scored 14 points on four of five shooting from three-point range in the opening half. The Stags never looked back from that point, and moved into the championship game with the win. Shane Miller also reach double figures for the Stags with 16 points. Niagara's Chris Watson led all scorers with 25 points.
The winner of this year's Fairfield-Niagara game will play on Saturday night at 7:30 pm against second-seeded Iona College. The second round game will also be televised on MAAC TV as well as broadcasted on Sirius Satellite Radio.
