Men's Basketball Sets 2015-16 Non-Conference Schedule
Two 20-win teams, the University of North Carolina and Yale University, along with squads from six different conferences and leagues will be on the 2015-16 Ƭapp men’s basketball non-conference schedule. The Stags’ opponents posted a combined .513 winning percentage a year ago and sent four teams to postseason play.
“I believe we have accomplished our goal of putting together a quality non-conference schedule that will challenge our student-athletes night in and night out,” Head Coach Sydney Johnson said. “Playing teams from six different conferences adds to the overall experience for our student-athletes.”
Fairfield opens the 2015-16 season with a pair of 20-game winners, beginning with Yale University on November 13 as part of the Connecticut 6 Classic. The Bulldogs owned a 22-10 overall record, the most wins since the 1948-49 season, and shared the Ivy League Championship.
The University of North Carolina is next in line, hosting the Stags on November 15. The Tar Heels posted a 26-12 slate a year ago, the 35th time that the program secured 25 or more wins. North Carolina advanced to the ACC Tournament championship game and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The game will also be televised on ESPNU beginning at 4 p.m.
The Stags stay on the road when they head to Northwestern University on November 18. The Wildcats just missed the .500 mark with a 15-17 overall record after winning five of their last seven regular-season games. Both games are part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic that includes host schools North Carolina, Northwestern, the University of Missouri, and Kansas State University.
Fairfield opens the home portion of its non-conference schedule when Sacred Heart University comes to Webster Bank Arena on November 21. The Pioneers finished the regular season with 15 overall wins and nine Northeast Conference victories, the most overall and conference wins since they went 17-14 and 12-6 during the 2008-09 season.
The Stags will return to the road for a November 24 match up with the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, which is also part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. UMES earned its first postseason berth in nearly 30 years when the program advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). The team registered an 18-15 record in 2014-15, its most wins since the 1973-74 campaign.
Three days later, Coach Johnson and his team hosts Columbia University, which held the opposition to less than 50 points in five of its 13 victories in 2014-15. The Lions finished the year with a 13-15 mark behind the efforts of senior Maodo Lo, who tallied an Ivy League record 11 three pointers in the season finale victory over Princeton.
Fairfield will play its second straight New York–based team when Wagner University comes to Webster Bank Arena on December 18 after recording a 10-20 overall record last year. The Seahawks have five newcomers on the 2015-16 roster including four that have previous college experience.
Two Patriot League members are next on the docket for the Stags as Fairfield hosts Loyola University (Md.) on December 22 before heading to Bucknell University on December 27. The Greyhounds won 11 games a year ago behind the efforts of freshmen Cam Gregory and Andre Walker, both of whom earned Patriot League All-Rookie team honors. Bucknell gathered 19 victories in 2014-15 and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Dartmouth College comes to town on January 4 after earning a bid to the CIT a year ago, the program’s first postseason bid in 56 years. Dartmouth owned a 14-15 overall record under Head Coach Paul Cormier, and was led by Ivy League Rookie of the Year Miles Wright. The guard averaged 7.7 points and picked up a team-best 42 steals in his inaugural campaign.
For information on 2015-16 Ƭapp season ticket packages visit or contact the Ƭapp Athletics Ticket Office at (203) 254-4136.
