Dec. 3, 2003
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Deng Gai (Sudan) raised his blocks per game average to 5.3 following a six-rejection performance against Fordham on December 2. His per game average ties him for the Division I lead in that category, joining UMass's Gabriel Lee.
Gai has registered at least five blocks in each game this year, beginning with a five-block evening against Harvard University. The forward capped that night with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
He followed up that performance with five more blocks in a victory against St. John's, a nice compliment to his 14-point, eight-rebound night. In the Fordham game, Gai posted season-highs across the board with 21 points as well as six blocks, and tied his season-best with 12 caroms.
Gai finished fourth in the nation last season with 3.8 blocks per game. He currently has 232 blocks in 57 games (4.07 blocks per game), which includes his 16 blocks in three games this season. Gai has won back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) defensive player of the year awards (2003 and 2002).
Plus, Gai is tied for 17th in the nation with 10.7 rebounds per game, checking into the Manhattan game with 32 rebounds in three games. Teammate Rob Thomson is tied for 28th in the nation with a 10.3 rebounding average.
The statistical ranking is based upon numbers compiled by Stats, Inc. and is listed on the Fox Sports website. The NCAA does not begin compiling statistics until later this month.
The Fairfield University men's basketball team, under head coach Tim O'Toole, opens its conference season on Friday, December 5 when it hosts Manhattan College. For ticket information, please call (203) 254-4103 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
