FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's basketball team will head south for a Tuesday night match up with George Mason University in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The game will be played at the Patriot Center on campus, beginning at 7 pm.
This game will mark Fairfield's first post-season appearance since playing in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2003.The Stags come off an overtime setback to Siena College in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament championship game. Fairfield enjoyed one of its best seasons in school history by posting 22 wins to this point. It marked the program's first 20-win season since the 1995-96 team won 20 games en route to a NIT berth.
Fairfield is led by senior Anthony Johnson and freshman Derek Needham. Johnson, who was named to the All-MAAC first team and the MAAC defensive player of the year by vote of the conference coaches, is averaging nearly a double-double for the season with 15.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Needham, who was selected to the All-MAAC seconde team and the MAAC rookie of the year, is the team's top scorer at 16.2 points per game. He set the program record for most points (522) and most assists (165) by a freshman.
George Mason brings a 17-14 record into the CIT, finishing third in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots are led by Cam Long, who collected All-CAA second team honors as a guard. He is averaging 12.2 points and 97 assists with 39 steals this season, with his assist and steal total leading the team. Ryan Pearson is averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 caroms per contest.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster.