LE MOYNE (5-7) vs. Fairfield University (6-6)
Saturday, Dec. 30 - 2:00 p.m.
Fairfield, Conn. – Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Video: ESPN+
Radio: FOX Sports 92.5 FM/1490 AM
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
 
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne men's basketball team wraps up its non-conference schedule with a road matchup against Fairfield University on Saturday.
 
Fairfield, which is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), has recently turned its season around. The Stags started the year losing six of their first seven games. They quickly caught fire, though, going 5-0 in December to climb back to an even 6-6 record. Fairfield's dominance included wins over Rider, Yale, Sacred Heart, and Wagner. The Stags then downed FDU 92-69 in their latest matchup, a team Le Moyne will face twice in 2023-24.
 
Fairfield, a Jesuit institution like Le Moyne, is searching for its first winning season since 2017-18. The Stags won 13 games last year and went just 4-7 outside of MAAC play. Fairfield is led by interim head coach Chris Casey, who was a previous assistant with the Stags.
 
Guard Jalen Leach is at the top of Fairfield's offensive production. The senior is averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting almost 50% from the field. Leach is almost perfect from the free throw line, making 26 of his 27 attempts. He has totalled 15 or more points in five straight contests. Leach also ranks second on Fairfield in assists (23) and steals (15).
 
Redshirt Senior Brycen Goodine, who spent his freshman season across town at Syracuse, has been hot to start the year as well. The guard puts up 12.5 points per matchup. Goodine is shooting a fantastic 45.5% from beyond the arc on over 50 attempts. Goodine has knocked down a three in all but one contest in 2023-24. He tallied a season-high six three-pointers against Rhode Island in early November. Goodine grabs three rebounds and dishes out almost two assists a game. He also sits third on the Stags with 10 steals.
 
Guard Jasper Floyd is another option for Fairfield. The junior averages just over 11 points per contest and leads the Stags in minutes played. Floyd is effective in other areas too, bringing in 5.6 rebounds a game. He also leads Fairfield in assists (58) and steals (29) by far.
 
The Stags are limiting opponents to just under 66 points per matchup during their win streak. Fairfield has kept teams under 60 points on three separate occasions in 2023-24.
 
Le Moyne looks to end its non-conference slate on a high note after a 72-55 loss to Penn State on December 21. The contest snapped a two-game win streak for the Dolphins. Despite the loss, Le Moyne held Penn State to under 40% from the field.
 
Guard Kaiyem Cleary led the Dolphins with 14 points against the Nittany Lions. The effort was his third straight game with 10+ points. Cleary knocked down two threes and went 5/11 from the field. He also topped Le Moyne in rebounds with seven and added an assist and a steal. Cleary is averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and over an assist per game through his 11 appearances.
 
Junior Ocypher Owens built off his strong 26-point performance against Houghton, scoring 13 against Penn State. He had an all-around effort, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. Owens also added a steal and a block on the night. It was his fifth time scoring in double figures this season.
 
Graduate students Nate McClure and Mike DePersia also made an impact. McClure had 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He hit two shots from beyond the arc for the third consecutive game. DePersia made his presence known on defense, tallying three steals. He leads the Dolphins with 33 steals this year.
 
Le Moyne's conference schedule begins right after its matchup against Fairfield. The Dolphins face FDU in New Jersey on January 6th to start the slate. Le Moyne has 16 straight NEC games to close out the season.