The Fairfield men’s basketball team has been searching for what Head Coach Ed Cooley called “Uncle Mo” ever since the Stags went on winter break.
Now heading into their matchup with 0-18 Iona, Fairfield has found the momentum it was looking for. The Stags were able to remain confident during a five game slide and are now on their first win streak of the season, which sits at two games.
“This is our first two game win streak of the year, so that is a start,” said senior guard Michael Van Schaick. “Now we just have to keep building on this.”
The Stags, who are now 5-15 overall and 3-5 in the MAAC, must not overlook the challenge that the Gaels will bring them, despite their record. Fairfield broke its five game losing streak on Jan. 14 against Iona but had to go into overtime to do so.
“We don’t look at them as an 0-8 team,” Van Schaick said, “They are still Division One basketball players and they took us to overtime last time. We will not take them lightly.”
While Cooley would not say that there is an extra pressure on the Stags to not be the first team to lose to Iona, he did say that it is a key game for them.
“You are always going to face pressure, whether somebody is 0-18 or 17-1 or 18-0.” Cooley said. “Right now I am focused on keeping our kids focused on what Fairfield is doing. A win begins to put some separation between us and a few teams behind us and gives the team confidence moving forward.”
According to Cooley the key to winning will be how the team plays on the defensive side, what he has focused on all season. The Stags will specifically look to guard the inside players for the Gaels, Anthony Bruin and Justin Marshall.
“We have played them once and we know what they can do. We have to be able to guard them [Bruin and Marshall] and make them go to their secondary options,” said Cooley.
Bruin, who is a senior, is the Gaels leading scorer, averages 14.1 points per game. Bruin was right on his average in his first matchup with Fairfield, as he scored 14 points. But Bruin was put on the free throw line by the Stags 13 times and only connected on four of those attempts.
“We have to start right in the first half, playing great defense and rebounding, because they are a physical team and we have to knock down our open shots,” said Van Schaick.
“If we take care of our business, we will be fine,” added Cooley.
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