FAIRFIELD/IONA..BREAK IT DOWN

[Old School]

bust it up ..



Fairfield 5-11 (Road: 4-6) 7:30 pm EST

Iona 6-12 (Home: 4-2



Fri 1/18 723 Fairfield +3 -105 +136
04:30 PM 724 Iona -3 -105 -151

 

[Old School]

Fairfield University (5-11 overall, 3-3 MAAC) will reach into its suitcase one more time this evening, as the Stags play its final road contest before a three-game home stand begins on January 21 against Saint Peter's. Head Coach Ed Cooley takes his team on the road for the sixth time over the last seven games this evening, posting a 3-2 mark during the first five outings. Fairfield has played nearly twice as many road games (11 including tonight) as home dates (6) so far. The Stags come off their first conference road loss this year (3-1) against co-leader Marist College, as the Red Foxes posted a 77-70 win. Junior Herbie Allen turned in another solid performance, leading the team in scoring for the second straight night. The guard poured in 19 points to lead all Fairfield scorers, just a few nights after tallying a career-high 23 markers versus Loyola. Jonathan Han remains the only Fairfield player averaging better than 10 points a game, tossing in 11.1 points each night. Greg Nero just misses the mark with his 9.7 scoring average. Anthony Johnson secured nine rebounds against Marist, raising his team-leading total to 7.6 caroms per contest.

Iona College (6-12 overall, 2-4MAAC) has been a streaky team this year, opening the season with six losses before winning five of its next six outings. The Gaels followed up that successful string with five straight losses before ending the run with a 69-50 home win against Saint Peter's. Devon Clarke paced the Iona offense that night with 15 points, slightly better than reserve Kyle Camper's 12 markers. Dexter Gray and Clarke have anchored the team's offense this year, averaging 11.4 points and 10.4 points per game, respectively. Gray has tallied 10 or more points in 13 of 18 games this year, while Clarke has reached the plateau 10 times. Iona has played well at the Hynes Athletic Center this year, posting four of its six overall wins and two of its four MAAC victories at home. The Gaels have played one of the more challenging schedules this year, traveling to North Carolina, Louisville, and Vanderbilt

 

[Old School]

Gaels report: Strategy and personnel Jan. 15, 2008
The Sports Xchange
Strategy and personnel ? Notes, quotes ? Getting inside







PLAYER ROTATION
Usual Starters -- F Devon Clarke, F Dexter Gray, G Rashon Dwight, G Kyle Camper, G Andre Tarver. Key reserves -- F Gary Springer, D DeShaune Griffin, G Milan Prodanovic, C John Kelly.

GAME REVIEW


Loyola 63, Iona 51

Rider 72, Iona 64

Iona 69, St. Peter's 50

GAME PREVIEW


Vs. Fairfield, Friday, Jan. 18

At Rider, Monday, Jan. 21

Vs. Marist, Thursday, Jan. 24

IN FOCUS
The next one, against Fairfield, is the biggest one for an Iona team looking for a two-game winning streak.

ROSTER REPORT
F Gary Springer did a solid job defending MAAC player of the year contender Jason Thompson, holding the Rider star to 14 points in the Iona loss.

G Andre Tarver missed the Rider game with an injury and shot just 3-for-13 against St. Peter's.

F Devon Clarke had 15 points and eight rebounds and also did a fine job defending Todd Sowell in the win over St. Peter's, limiting the Peacocks' best player to 12 points.

G Kyle Camper had 25 points and 10 assists combined against St. Peter's and Rider.



Stags report: Notes, quotes Jan. 15, 2008
The Sports Xchange
Notes, quotes ? Getting inside ? Strategy and personnel






--Fairfield's two recent losses -- Jan. 11 against Loyola and Jan. 13 against Marist -- were by a total of 11 points.

--The Stags finished the season series with Loyola, one of the league favorites, with a 1-1 record, with each team winning on the other's floor.

--The loss to Loyola dropped Fairfield to 16-4 over the last 20 games with the Greyhounds and 3-2 over the past two seasons.

--The Jan. 11 loss to Loyola came in Fairfield's first home game since Dec. 21 and dropped Fairfield to 1-5 at home.

--Fairfield won at Siena despite turning the ball over 17 times and attempting just five free throws. Siena shot 34 percent and only 26 percent in the first half.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're inexperienced and we have to learn how to win. That's really it." -- Fairfield coach Ed Cooley on his 5-11 team.

 

[IE]

SKINNY ? The Stags carry a two-game losing streak into tonight's game. Junior guard Herbie Allen has had the hot hand for Fairfield, averaging 21 points in the past two games. The Stags' perimeter defense needs work after allowing 24 3-pointers in losses to Loyola and Marist, which shot 48 percent from outside. Fairfield is on the road for the sixth time in seven games. The team is 3-2 away from home since Christmas. Dexter Gray leads Iona with 11.4 ppg and Gary Springer is averaging 7.2 rebounds. The Stags have swept Iona in regular season play four times over the past five years. The schools have not split a season series since 1999-2000.