In a highly anticipated Metro Atlantic Athletic clash, the Fairfield Stags (9-7, 3-2) face off against the Canisius Golden Griffins (7-8, 2-3) at the Koessler Athletic Center. As the clock ticks towards 1:00 PM ET on January 14th, both teams prepare for a pivotal matchup that could significantly impact their conference standings. With Fairfield's impressive recent form and Canisius’ resilience at home, this game promises to be a closely contested battle.
The Fairfield Stags, positioned towards the top in the Metro Atlantic Athletic with a record of 9-7, suffered a recent setback against Niagara, losing on the road 96-72. This defeat snapped their impressive eight-game winning streak, revealing some areas for improvement. Offensively, the Stags average 75.6 points per game, reflecting their ability to put points on the board consistently. Fairfield’s shooting efficiency is notable, with a field goal percentage of 44.4 and a strong three-point shooting percentage at 35.5. This outside shooting prowess has been a significant asset, allowing Fairfield to stretch defenses and create scoring opportunities.
Free-throw shooting is another area where Fairfield excels, boasting a 77.8% success rate, ranking them 11th nationally. This proficiency at the charity stripe has of ten given them an edge in close contests. However, rebounding remains a challenge for Fairfield, as they average only 34.1 total rebounds per game, placing them near the bottom nationally. Enhancing their performance on the boards could be key to turning close games into victories. Defensively, the Stags allow an average of 71.8 points per game. The Stags defense against the three-point shot is an area needing improvement, as they currently allow a 33.8% success rate from beyond the arc. Fairfield's overall field goal percentage allowed stands at 44.4%, indicating a need for tighter defensive schemes and better perimeter defense.
In terms of team leaders, Caleb Fields leads the Stags in scoring with an average of 14.1 points per game, while Jasper Floyd contributes significantly in multiple areas, leading in assists (4.6 APG), rebounds (5.8 RPG), and steals (2.4 SPG). Floyd's all -around play has been instrumental in Fairfield's successes this season. Peyton Smith, with 0.9 blocks per game, provides a defensive presence inside.