Spotlight on Derek Needham: The sophomore guard led the Stags with 14.0 points and 4.5 assists, after the best freshman season in Fairfield history. He averaged 35 minutes a game. His had six steals against Marist in the Southern Conference Tournament. The 5-foot-11 guard from Illinois is one of just two Midwesterners on the roster.
Fairfield: The Stags allow only 57.8 points per game. That ranks second nationally in Division I. They held Marist to 31 points in the MAAC quarterfinals and set a tournament record with 19 steals in that game. . . . Ed Cooley was named District I coach of the year. . . . Four of the Stags’ starters received some all-conference mention, including all-rookie selection Maurice Barrow. . . . The Stags ranked No. 18 in the midmajor poll at the end of February. . . . Fairfield’s biggest player is 7-foot, 235-pound junior center Ryan Olander, who averages 10.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. . . . This is Fairfield’s sixth NIT appearance. The Stags bring a 1-5 record in NIT games to Fort Collins.
Colorado State: The Rams have a No. 3 seed in their NIT region and once again are trying to get their 20th win this season. . . . Senior guard Adam Nigon, who missed the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas because of a toe injury, sat out practice Monday. . . . Sophomore guard Dorian Green (13 points and four assists) had a solid game against New Mexico in Las Vegas, so perhaps he’s back to his midseason form. . . . The higher seed has the host role for NIT games before the semifinals in New York. If No. 2-seeded Saint Mary’s beats No. 7 Kent State, tonight’s winner at Moby Arena plays the next round at Saint Mary’s. . . . Ticket sales have been good, with fans waiting in line at 7:30 a.m. when the Moby box office opened. . . . CSU hasn’t played in the NIT since 1999, when the Rams (19-11) were coached by Ritchie McKay.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
