Ana Ziegler/The Mirror Seniors Mike Evanovich (middle) and Anthony Johnson (32) have emerged as leaders for the Stags as they head down the final stretch of their careers at Fairfield. The Stags are 13-5 and in second place in the MAAC with eight games to play. (Ana Ziegler/The Mirror)
Fairfield head men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley has made one point pretty clear in his three and a half years at the helm of the Stags: Seniors will step up as the finish line grows closer.
In 2006-07 it was Michael Van Schaick, who emerged as a top scorer after three years of average play. In 2007-08 Mamadou Diakhate emerged as a fiery, emotional leader. And just last season Herbie Allen filled the void left behind by fellow senior Jon Han, nearly leading a wounded Stags squad to a strong finish.
This season two forwards who have both had their ups and downs in their Stags careers, Anthony Johnson and Mike Evanovich, are stepping up when it matters.
The Stags are off to their best start under Cooley at 13-5 and sit in second place in the MAAC with a 6-2 record, despite a 81-73 loss to first place Siena on Saturday. The Stags rebounded to defend their home court against Canisius, defeating the Golden Griffs 76-74 on Monday.
While Junior Yorel Hawkins (team-high 15.7 points per game) and the MAAC’s top freshman, Derek Needham (15.6 points per game), have been key to Fairfield’s success, none of it would be possible without the solid play of the Stags senior duo.
Johnson, averaging 13.7 points per game, scored 27 points in a victory over Manhattan on Jan. 10 when his teammates needed a lift. And then Evanovich took his turn, shooting 6-for-10 in his last two games and averaging 11 points while playing tight defense and providing leadership.
“Every day is a little closer to the end,” said Evanovich, who is averaging 6.4 points per game and has emerged as one of the MAAC’s top sixth-men. “I’m starting to realize it more and more. I’m starting to work harder in practice. This is the most I’ve done in my career, the hardest I’ve worked, and I’m glad it is starting to show. I’m glad it is turning around. I’m just trying to help this team get some wins.”
In his first two seasons at Fairfield Evanovich, who transferred in from Iowa State in Cooley’s first season, was known as a pure-shooter. But this season his ability to defend, rebound and lead his teammates on the court has become much more apparent as a larger role has been cast upon him.
Cooley figuratively handed Evanovich the game ball in the post-game press conference following the Stags win over Canisius, crediting his three-point shot that put the Stags up for good in the second half as the key to the victory.
“Michael’s senior leadership. We’ve seen it, we’ve talked about it,” Cooley said. “From his ability to communicate on the floor and recognize a situation to making what I thought was the shot of a game – right by our bench – that put us up three. I thought Mike made that shot before he took it.”
Evanovich’s improved play has not only been noticed by Cooley, but also by his teammates. Hawkins entered the press conference along with Evanovich and jokingly chanted, “MVP, MVP,” about Evanovich’s performance against Canisius.
“Mike played huge today. He hit big shots. I don’t even think it was his offense that got him MVP. On defense he was telling us where to go and talking,” Hawkins said.
Cooley was quick to jump in, adding more about the impact of Evanovich’s defense.
“Mike has taken a lot of criticism, and I applaud his efforts. Mike does have pride defensively. What he has done in practice in the last three or four weeks has not gone unnoticed by the coaches,” Cooley said. “It’s just a really proud moment for me for Michael to see that development.
“I told him that about two or three days ago, about how much I’ve seen him work in becoming the player we knew we recruited,” Cooley added. “We just had to get the right chemistry around him.”
With Johnson, Hawkins and Needham feeding off of Evanovich’s energy and guidance, Cooley may have finally found the perfect mixture, especially in late-game situations, where Evanovich has showed particularly vocal leadership of late.
The Stags will need both of their seniors to continue to rise to the occasion as they close out the second half of the season with seven of their eleven games on the road.
That span begins on Thursday night as Fairfield travels to take on Marist in Poughkeepsie and then goes up the road to Iona in New Rochelle on Sunday afternoon. Iona currently sits in third place in the MAAC, just one game behind Fairfield.
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