Monmouth Hawks (13-8, 7-3 MAAC) at Fairfield Stags (8-12, 4-5 MAAC)
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT

TV
ESPN+

RADIO
Shore Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Greg Mescall

SCOUTING THE STAGS
Landon Taliaferro leads Fairfield with 13.6 points per game, with Jesus Cruz also scoring in double figures and Taj Benning just shy of double digits. Fairfield has dropped three of four, but have won three home games in a row.

FAIRFIELD HEAD COACH JAY YOUNG
Jay Young is in his first season leading the Stags. Young most recently spent time at two stops with Steve Pikiell that included 11 years at Stony Brook and three seasons at Rutgers.

MONMOUTH ON THE ROAD
The Hawks are 4-7 on the road this season, and 2-3 in MAAC play away from West Long Branch, picking up wins at Iona and Manhattan.

FAIRFIELD AT HOME
The Stags are 3-4 at home this season, but 0-3 at Webster Bank Arena, falling to Bucknell, UMass and Marist in Bridgeport.

SERIES NOTES
-Monmouth leads the all-time series 10-5.
-Since becoming MAAC foes, Monmouth leads the series 10-3.
-After a February 2014 setback, the Hawks won seven straight over Fairfield until 2017-18 when the Stags swept the series.
-MU has lost to Fairfield at Webster Bank Arena just twice since joining the MAAC in 2013.

SALNAVE REACHES 1,000
With a corner three in the second half of a win over Rider, Ray Salnave became the 25th player at the Division I level and 44th overall in program history to reach the 1,000 point mark. He joins teammate Deion Hammond, who got there on January 10 at Quinnipiac, and the duo are the first pair of 1,000 point scorers at MU to get there in the same season since Justin Robinson and Deon Jones in 2015-16.

GET SOME, GEORGE
George Papas exploded off the bench against Rider for a career-high 21 points, including two threes in the decisive 8-1 run for Monmouth in the second half to propel them to victory. It was Papas' first career 20+ effort, knocking in a career best six field goals and tying a career-high with five triples. He was also 5-5 from the foul line, and leads MU in free throw shooting on the season.

NIKKEI TAKES ADVANTAGE
Making his first start since November 15, Nikkei Rutty capitalized against Rider, posting his first career double-double with career bests in points (11) and rebounds (12). He made five field goals, a career best, and grabbed six of MU's season-best 17 offensive rebounds.

SECOND CHANCES
The Hawks snagged 17 offensive rebounds against Rider, a season best. Six of them went to Nikkei Rutty, and the Hawks extended possessions to the tune of 20 second-chance points. 

DIFFERENT STARTING LINEUP
Monmouth ran out a different starting five against Rider for the first time in 15 games in the absence of Marcus McClary, who missed his first career game after playing in 86 in a row. It was the first time King Rice used the combo of Chaput-Hammond-Salnave-Rutty-Traore this season. Only Traore and Hammond have started all 21 games for MU to this point.

SCORING OUTBURST
Monmouth scored its most points of the season with 94 at Iona, 12 more than the previous high this year of 82 against Canisius. It marked the most points for the Hawks since scoring 98 in the MAAC quarterfinals against Quinnipiac last season. Monmouth also netted 14 three pointers, the most of the season, in the win. It was the most threes MU has made in a game since March 2017 in the NIT against Ole Miss, making 16. Monmouth topped 90 for the second time this season in the win over Rider on 2/2.