For the men’s basketball team winter break was anything but relaxing. Following an 18 day layoff for finals and holidays, the Stags played five games, losing all five. Finally, on the same day that Fairfield students returned to campus, the Stags broke that streak with a win over Iona.
Fairfield then turned that win into its first streak of the season, as the team defeated Siena last Friday and Iona again on Tuesday. Now 4-5 in the MAAC and 6-15 overall, the Stags can still hope for a top six finish in conference play, which would give them a first round bye in the MAAC tournament.
Despite the tough losses, the Stags never lost confidence. Led senior guard Michael Van Schaick, who has averaged 17.7 points over the Stags’ last seven games, Fairfield was able to overcome the losing streak.
” At times it is difficult to stay confident, especially when we outplayed teams and still lost,” said Van Schaick.
It was the leadership of Van Schaick that helped keep the team together heading into the Iona game.
“I depend on him, he is definitely our leader,” said Head Coach Ed Cooley, “That is what senior’s should do.
Following a one point loss to Rider the Stags’ frustration was at a season high and they needed to win against Iona, the only team in Division-I basketball that has not won a game this season. They came out and did what it took to win, defeating the Gaels 83-76, in overtime.
Van Schaick scored 16 points, but it was the sudden emergence of sophomore guard Jonathan Han, who celebrated his birthday by setting a career high 19 points.
It was the next game, however, that could prove to be the turning point of the Stags season. Riding the momentum of the Iona win, the Stags entered a tough match up against Siena, who was 5-2 in the MAAC at the time.
The game was even more important for Van Schaick, who grew up in Glen Falls, N.Y., located near Albany, where Siena plays its games. Playing in front of about 100 family members and friends, Van Schaick had a career night, scoring 27 points.
All throughout the season and especially during the five game losing streak, the Stags had trouble finishing a game down the stretch. But it was the complete opposite against Siena, as Van Schaick took over the game and led his team on a 17-3 run that led to a 72-67 victory.
“It was a lot of fun playing one final time in front of my family and friends, I’ve been doing it since high school,” said Van Schaick.
The Stags were then put into another must win game against the Gaels, who had dropped to 0-18. Iona did everything in its power to win and had a three point lead with 21 seconds left. It was then time for an unsung hero to stepup.
With five seconds left, Van Schaick, who had scored a team high 23 points, was trapped with the ball and threw a wild pass across the court to Mamadou Diakhate `08, who caught the ball and nailed the game tying three pointer. It was the first three point shot he had taken all season.
Fairfield took control in over, led by the vocal leadership of Diakhate. With a one point lead, Diakhate sealed the game with a diving steal, and the Stags held on for a 70-67 victory.
“The time was running down and I knew someone had to take the shot. Van Schaick threw it to me and I took it,” said Diakhate.
Cooley has been pleased with the way his team has grown throughout the season, in what is a rebuilding year.
“One thing a lot of people are overlooking, we have inherited complimentary players to be front line players, which is very hard to do,” said Cooley, “The one who has taken the biggest advantage of that is Van Schaick. You are asking role players to be main line players and for the most part we have done well with it.”
Throughout the five game losing streak, the Stags struggled at closing games down the stretch. The team lost by more than four points only twice. In the past three games the team has closed out games and picked up much needed victories.
“We have grown up a lot as a team,” said Van Schaick. “We learned to win and sometimes in the beginning of the year the bounces weren’t going our way, but that is basketball.”
STAGS REPORT CARD: Three Game Winning Streak
The men’s basketball team is riding a three game winning streak beginning with a Iona victory, 83-76 (OT), followed by Siena, 72-67, and another victory against Iona, 70-67 (OT).
Rebounding: A-
The one thing that Fairfield was able to do consistently over the past seven games was rebound. The Stags have 301 offensive rebounds on the season and an average 32.9 boards per game, while holding opponents to 30.9. Marty O’Sullivan `07 leads the team with 6 rebounds per game, which is ninth best in the MAAC.
Defense: B+
Fairfield has also been a solid defensive team all season. The Stags lead the MAAC in scoring defense, allowing 66.2 points per game. Fairfield held three of the five opponents that it lost to during the losing streak to under 60 points.
Scoring: C-
The Stags have finally found a clutch scorer in Michael Van Schaick `07, who is now averaging 14 points per game, but the team is still struggling to score consistently. No other player on the team is averaging more than 10 points. They are shooting just 40 percent on the season, which is the worst in the MAAC.
Overall: B
Fairfield seemed ready to turn around the season heading into its winter break. But the Stags came out with five straight losses, mainly due to a failure to score and poor turnovers. They may have finally found that turning point with three straight victories, but they had to go into overtime against winless Iona twice. The next game two games against St. Peter’s and Niagara, both at home, will be the determining factors as to where the Stags go the rest of this season.
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