Head Coach Ed Cooley has been saying all season that the team has to take one game at a time.
After a loss, Cooley and his players were always looking forward to the next game, and after a win they knew that the game would not matter the next time out. Early in the season it was a way for the Stags to move on from many tough losses.
Now, Cooley and the Stags are riding a five-game winning streak and are now 6-5 in MAAC play and 8-15 overall. But Cooley is not getting excited about the wins because he knows that the team has to be ready for a new challenge each game.
“We just want to take one game at a time,” said Cooley. “I am not going to get overexcited at the fact that we won a basketball game. This is isn’t about yesterday or what just happened, we are all about getting better game to game.”
Fairfield finished out a three-game home stand over the weekend with two much-needed victories against St. Peter’s and Niagara.
Senior guard Michael Van Schaick continued his strong play in both wins, reaching double figures in each, making it 11 straight games with 10 or more points for the Glen Falls, N.Y. native.
Van Schaick is now averaging a team-high 13.9 points per game and averaged 19 points during the winning streak. He was named the MAAC Co-Player of the Week for his performances.
“I think that is a tribute to his hard work not just this week, but throughout the year, stepping it up and making the big plays,” said Cooley.
“The winning streak is good, but you are only as good as your next opponent and how you play your next game,” Van Schaick said. “We can’t think about our win streak, we just have to think about the things we did well to get us there. We need to continue to do those things.”
The Stags’ performance this past weekend was the most consistent it has been all season. While the team played well for stretches, it was rarely able to find the consistency it needed to put itself in a position to win each game.
Against St. Peter’s it was the play of the guards that led Fairfield to its fourth straight win, 66-58.
Cooley used three guards at most times against the Peacocks’ zone, and that lineup was effective on both ends of the court.
Herbie Allen ’09 led the way for the Stags with 19 points, while Van Schaick added 16, and Jonathan Han ’09 contributed eight points.
The three guards’ 43 points were nearly two-thirds of Fairfield’s total offense.
“We are faster [when playing with three guards], I don’t know if we are better defensively and we struggle with rebounds, but we make more smart decisions,” Allen said. “And we make less turnovers.”
The Stags knew that a victory over St. Peter’s was needed to give the team momentum heading into their match-up with Niagara on Sunday, and they came through with a win in an important situation.
The strategy changed from small to big against Niagara, which features two of the top five scorers in the MAAC in Charron Fisher and Clif Brown, both forwards.
Anthony Johnson ’10 was the man to step up and lead the Stags to victory in what was their strongest performance of the season.
The freshman forward tied a career high with 16 points, while holding Fisher, who came in leading the MAAC in scoring with 22 points per game, to just 14 points.
“It was a good defensive effort on everybody’s behalf,” Cooley said. “He is a guy you have to focus on when you play Niagara.”
Fairfield held its biggest lead of the season, 17, during the second half and cruised to a 12 point victory, 68-56, its largest victory of the year.
“I think that was our most complete 40 minutes of the season,” Cooley said. “Guys are getting more comfortable on the floor, in our transition game. They are reading the defense a little better and grinding it out.”
The win evens the season series with Niagara and moves Fairfield into contention for a sixth place or better finish, which would give the Stags a first round bye in the MAAC tournament, which will be played at their home court, the Arena at Harbor Yard.
“Any time you feel you can get a bye, it puts you in position for more success, whether it be an extra day of rest or more time to prepare,” Cooley said.
“It also tries to move your program forward, but I am not even thinking about the MAAC tournament. All we are concentrating on now is the next game,” he added.
Friday will be a matchup of streaking teams as both the Stags and Canisius are riding five- game winning streaks.
Both teams are also tied for fourth in the MAAC at 6-5. Head to head however, Fairfield defeated Canisius on Dec. 10, 75-64.
Cooley understands the importance of the game and thinks if the Stags play hard, they can continue their winning ways.
“The coaching staff will make sure they’re prepared,” Cooley said. “They have to get on the floor and execute.”
Following the game at Canisius, the Stags return home for a Monday night game against Loyola, (Md).
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